May 30, 2014

Glendronach for golfers plus two compadres

You may know that Donald Trump owns a golf resort near Aberdeen and that, incidentally, he isn’t too happy (which makes a lot of people happy) because he just lost a legal action against a windfarm being built near his resort. No, no jokes about hot air! Anyway, two years ago Mr Trump selected one cask of Glendronach to be sold at his resort, let’s try today if you please…

Glendronach 26 yo 1985/2012 'Trump' (53.3%, OB for Trump Golf Links, Pedro Ximenez, cask #1036, 504 bottles)

That’s right, cough, Donald Trump. Cough. It seems that he did not select the cask himself, as he does not drink. Cough. Colour: amber. Nose: there are wee touches of sulphur and mashed turnips at very first sniffs, quite some struck matches too, but it tends to become more and more ‘all right’, with the expected leather, tobacco, chocolate, raisins and beef jerky. With water: more cigars, and assorted (used) matches. Quite some humus too, musty old cellar, saltpetre… Mouth (neat): well, I have to say I quite like this palate, which is rather unusual. No PX sweetness, rather some game, Spanish ham, bitter oranges, earthy liqueurs, tar, pu-erh tea… But there’s also a strange sourness. Eglantine tea, perhaps? With water: same, not much changes. Finish: rather long, earthy, gamy, leafy, leathery. Comments: very fine, but Donald J. Trump can do better. Well, not too sure ‘bout dat... Anyway, several of these Pedro Ximenez casks are unusually un-sweet in my opinion. SGP:462 - 84 points.

Glendronach 18 yo 1996/2014 (54.1%, OB for The Nectar, Madeira hogsheads, cask #4767)

Glendronach 18 yo 1996/2014 (54.1%, OB for The Nectar, Madeira hogsheads, cask #4767) As always with new Glendronach, not too sure whether this has been fully matured in Madeira or simply finished. What’s sure is that Madeira isn’t very ‘usual’. Colour: gold. Nose: another world, straighter, sharper, more mineral and more herbal. There are walnuts, sweet mustard, some sour cream, maybe touches of wine vinegar (it’s a little acetic I have to say), then more cigars again, leather, old wood, mushrooms… This is very interesting, I’m really curious about the palate. With water: becomes rather leafy, with also touches of patchouli, then more and more fresh rhubarb. Mouth (neat): this really works. Less leathery and mustardy than expected, and rather more candied, as if this was a rum finish rather than Madeira. So sugar cane, crystallised oranges, a grassiness in the background, some liquorice… I like. With water: same, all good. And the sweet mustard is back, together with a little nutmeg. Finish: long, on tobacco and brown sugar. Bitterish aftertaste. Comments: a very nice, rather unusual combo. Not only for mustard freaks ;-). SGP:461 - 86 points.

How about a sister cask?

Glendronach 18 yo 1996/2014 (55.3%, OB for The Dram Brothers, Madeira hogsheads, cask #4766)

Colour: gold. Nose: we’re obviously very close, but this is more mineral, rather cleaner and grassier, without the slightly acetic/sour notes. Or rather much less of them. On the other hand, there are more walnuts, rocks, dead leaves, green cigars… With water: same, it’s fresher, with also whiffs of fresh mint and other, well, fresh herbs. A clean babe. Mouth (neat): once again, this one’s straighter, and I even find more oranges, kumquats… The oak’s a little bigger too, with some cinnamon, a lot of nutmeg and quite a lot of cardamom. With water: excellent leather, leaf, tobacco and grapefruits. These citrus fruits really lift it. Finish: rather long, unexpectedly zesty. Clean lemony leather, I’d say. Comments: my favourite sister ;-). SGP:551 - 88 points.

(with thanks to Martin)

Check the index of all Glendronach I've tasted so far