Glendronach

Introduction:

Glendronach Distillery offers a wide range of official bottlings, providing enthusiasts with various options to choose from. The collection includes age statements such as the 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 – year – old expressions, showcasing the different maturation periods and flavor profiles of Glendronach whisky. Additionally, the distillery offers a Cask Strength bottling and Wood Finishes Bottlings, providing unique and limited-edition releases for whisky connoisseurs. The range was expanded in 2009 with the relaunch of the 12 – year – old Original expression, accompanied by the return of the 15 and 18 – year – old bottlings. While there aren’t many independent bottlings available, Whisky Galore and Signatory Vintage have released a few expressions sourced from Glendronach. Glendronach has a longstanding association with Teachers and Ballantine Blends, and it continues to be a significant component in these blends. However, its relationship with Chivas Regal, which was established when Pernod Ricard acquired the distillery, has been suspended.

Production:

Glendronach Distillery has a production capacity of 1.3 million liters, making it relatively small compared to its neighboring Speyside distilleries. The distillery draws its water from the Dronach Burn, a water source located within the distillery grounds. Notably, Glendronach was one of the last distilleries in Scotland to cease using coal firing as a method of heating its stills, highlighting its traditional approach to whisky production. The use of coal firing imparted a unique character to Glendronach’s spirit.

Pot Stills:

Glendronach operates with two wash stills and two spirit stills. The wash stills have a capacity of 13,635 liters each, while the spirit stills have a capacity of 6,800 liters each. Both the wash and spirit stills feature reflux bowls within the intermediate section, which contributes to the quality of the raw whisky. The pot stills have a traditional Speyside shape, characterized by a wide, rounded spherical lid and a tall conical neck. These stills play a crucial role in shaping the distinctive flavor and character of Glendronach whisky.

Maltings:

Glendronach was one of the last distilleries to discontinue its own floor maltings, decommissioning them in 1996. The distillery previously used coal and peat to dry the malted barley, resulting in a relatively peaty character for a Speyside single malt. Since 1996, Glendronach has sourced unpeated malt from an industrial supplier, leading to a shift in flavor profile. The use of coal and peat drying imparted unique characteristics that are now distinct to older expressions of Glendronach whisky.

Warehouses:

Glendronach boasts six on-site warehouses, consisting of three dunnage warehouses and three racked warehouses. The distillery exclusively uses sherry casks of extremely high quality to age its single malt whisky. After the acquisition by Pernod Ricard, the distillery briefly experimented with ex-Bourbon casks, which received mixed reactions from Glendronach enthusiasts. However, more recently, the distillery has returned to using sherry casks, much to the delight of Glendronach purists worldwide. The choice of cask influences the maturation process and imparts distinct flavors and aromas to the whisky.

History:

Glendronach Distillery was founded in 1826 by a consortium led by James Allardice. A century later, most of the distillery was destroyed in a fire, butit was rebuilt and continued its whisky production. Over the years, Glendronach changed ownership multiple times, with notable milestones including its acquisition by a consortium from Leith in 1887 and its purchase by Charles Grant, son of the founder of Glenfiddich distillery, in 1920. The Grant family successfully managed the distillery for several decades until it was acquired by William Teacher & Sons. Under the ownership of Teacher & Sons, Glendronach underwent expansion with the addition of two more stills in 1966 and the opening of a visitor’s center in 1976, allowing whisky enthusiasts to experience the distillery firsthand. In 1991, Glendronach was selected as one of the esteemed malts in Allied Distillers’ Caledonian Malts collection. However, the distillery was eventually mothballed after being acquired by Allied Distillers. Fortunately, production resumed in 2002 when the Benriach Company purchased Glendronach, marking a return to its independent distillery status. Since then, Glendronach has focused on upholding its traditional methods while expanding its range of whiskies.

Visitor’s Centre:

Glendronach offers a visitor’s centre that houses a gift shop featuring an extensive collection of Glendronach merchandise and official bottlings. Visitors can explore the distillery’s facilities and participate in informative tours, gaining insights into the whisky-making process and the distillery’s rich heritage. One highlight for whisky fans is the opportunity to purchase a “Hand Fill”, which allows visitors to personally fill their own bottle of Glendronach whisky from a cask.

Visitor information:

The Glendronach Distillery
Forgue by Huntly
Aberdeenshire
AB54 6DB
Tel: +44 (0)131-4562672
Email: info@glendronach.co.uk