Review #271: Glendronach 18 year old Allardice


Highland - 18 - NCF - NCA - $170 at Binny's or $105 + shipping from EU - 46%

This is the legendary Glendronach 24 18.  This whisky was distilled premothballing be the distillary u/the_muskox's review details this well. I had a Glendronach 21 18 at a tasting event some time ago.  It didn't take any notes but did not notice it being markedly older.  Let's see what peak 18 tastes like. I will qualify this review as saying that I have a bit of a stuffed nose, but I want to get a review in to decide if I will order.

Color - Mahogany 
Nose - Sherry fruits explode out, apricots, figs, plums, marzipan, stewed apples in baking spices, toffee with key limes, underneath it all is a layer of cocoa powder
Palate -  Raisins, molasses, more of that stewed apples, the spices really get amped up here, pepper, all spice
Finish - Medium - Baking spice, cigar boxes, toffee, chocolate orange candy
Overall - 8 - Wow, this nose is something else.  I wish that BenRiach brand rep had given me more that 2mils in the glencairn.  If I could have smelled this at the tasting, I would have bought a bottle just on the nose.  This dram really holds up to the hype.  It has a lot of personality, complexity without ever losing balance.  This is a whisky a connoisseur would like and a layman.  I would not pay Binny's price but before I completed this review I ordered a bottle from the EU.  
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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.
10 Best in Show
9 Great Dram for Special Occasions
8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection
7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood
6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle
5 I would drink it happily if offered
4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks
3 Maybe some soda will make this potable
2 I'll Pass
1 Toilet cleaner
Inclusive Ratings
Overall 6.1
Standard Deviation 0.92
Skew 0.66
Kurtosis -0.16

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