Glendronach 1993 ex-puncheon, PX vs oloroso


September 26, 2022

Little duos, today Glendronach 1993 ex-puncheon, PX vs oloroso

They are using really a lot of sweet PX at Glendronach, they could well actually support the whole PX business. You're right, almost, now what's sure is that we've stumbled upon quite a few stunning 1993s. Even ex-PX!

Glendronach 1993/2019 (51.1%, OB, The Whisky Exchange exclusive, PX puncheon, cask #6853, 772 bottles)

Some chocolate and some prunes should be found… Colour: golden amber. Nose (neat): right, those Mozartian Austrian chocolates filled with damson prunes indeed, plus plum eau-de-vie. Those things kill – positively. They do have family-packs but the saying goes like 'once opened, emptied'. Or rather like 'you'll never find an opened pack that's not empty'. Anyway, this is brilliant, beyond those chocolaty prunes, as there's also some soups, umami, marrow broth, armagnac, Corinth currants, black pipe tobacco and whatnot. With water: oh, something medicinal! Old embrocations, massage balms… It's true that not too long ago, Glendronach used to share its destiny with Laphroaig, under Allied's banner. Mouth: ancient style. Earthy, tea-ish, salty(ish), more on tobacco than on chocolate. I suppose if you cellar this for twenty years, you'll come up with some 'Samaroli'. See what I mean? With water: grand. Gets dry, superbly sour(ish), with the wonderful trio, chocolate, coffee and tobacco. Finish: long. And there, once more, something medicinal. Did they treat an ex-Laphroaig cask with PX, and then filled it with Glendronach? We won't complain! Comments: very splendid. Glendronach are kings of PX. Oh and I should have tried this baby earlier, rather than keep it in a stupid 'TBT' box. That's 'to be tasted'.
SGP:562 - 91 points.

Glendronach 28 yo 1993/2022 (53.2%, OB, for La Maison du Whisky, Oloroso puncheon, cask #7099, 630 bottles)

This one's brand new and this time, I am not late. Colour: golden amber. Nose: oloroso sweeter and rounder than PX, is that even possible? Unless the cask was shier and the distillate, which is superb at Glendronach as we all know, could have its say. This will be another 91/100, I can already tell you. Sultanas, menthol, guavas, coconut balls (but no vulgar coconut here), then sorrel soup, cress soup, chocolate, Cuban cigars… Well, I have to say this one too has the look of a winner. And ripe bananas. With water: banana cake! Plus old high-brow Sauternes, posh muscats, and a lot of apricot jam. Mouth (neat): yeah well, this time it is drier indeed, on coffee and bitter chocolate, plus black tea and tobacco. Umami-y things in the background, especially hoisin sauce. And now, the fruits I suppose… With water: I'm reminded of some pipe tobacco I used to smoke when I was twenty (so very recently), which was flavoured with cherries. Finish: long, with this admirable sour, quasi-bitter signature that prevents the whole experience from getting too… decadent? Comments: another stunning one, unless you don't like old-skool sherry monsters. Nothing medicinal in this one, having said that.
SGP:661 - 91 points.

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