Review: GlenDronach Master’s Anthology – Ode to the Valley, Embers, and Dark
GlenDronach is continually dropping luxe single malt special editions, but it turns out it can also do more approachable bottlings. While “The Master’s Anthology” may sound pretty ritzy, this trio comprises three affordable bottlings, all collected under a theme, and all non-age stated.
Each whisky features a different maturation, but all three utilize some level of sherry in the recipe. We’ll dig into the details with our review of each “Ode to” bottling.
“The Master’s Anthology is a tribute to the art of sherry cask maturation, reflecting the depth and character that have become synonymous with The Glendronach for over nearly 200 years,” said Rachel Barrie, the Master Blender of The Glendronach. “This collection is a journey into the heart of our distillery, where time-honored traditions and natural influences shape every drop of our whisky.”
“Each bottling is a new composition, amplifying key notes while preserving the harmony of our tradition. Ode to the Valley captures the abundance of the landscape of The Glendronach Distillery in full glory, Ode to the Embers evokes the bold spice of days gone by in The Valley of Forgue and Ode to the Dark enrobes layers of chocolate, plum, caramelized dates and coffee, to bask The Glendronach in rich splendor. This anthology embodies the essence of The Glendronach and tells a story of our history, our heart and our dedication,” Barrie continued.
Ready to taste? So are we!
All bottles are 700ml.
GlenDronach Ode to the Valley Review
Matured in a mix of ruby Port and (unspecified) sherry casks. Lightly smoky on the nose, the sherry does most of the heavy lifting here, popping off immediately with layers of tanned leather and oxidized orange peel. Ample spice and some chai tea aromas paint an aromatic picture that feels holiday-friendly, lightly gingery with a bit of time in glass. On the austere side on the palate, the whisky has the gravitas of a well-aged and sherried malt, showcasing bright citrus fruit alongside notes of mushroom, soy, and overdue library books. The spice here is gentle but again gingery, with a hint of chocolate coming forward on the finish. I missed much, if anything, related to Port in this package, but I’d happily suggest this to anyone asking for a starter sherry-forward dram. 92.4 proof. A- / $85 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
GlenDronach Ode to the Embers Review
A rare peated expression from GlenDronach, with aging predominantly in oloroso sherry casks, plus some Pedro Ximenez casks. The peat smoke here is so gentle yet immersive, the whisky promptly transported me to a Christmas fireplace that exists only in my imagination. Toasty and chocolatey, it features aromas of toffee, almond brittle, and touches of coconut-crusted dates, coming across like a tin of confections wrapped in wax paper and left by the hearth overnight. The palate is more peat-heavy than expected, but there’s also ample sweetness here to keep it in balance. Bright orange notes from the oloroso sherry find purchase, evoking tangerines, followed by a pop of cinnamon in vanilla syrup. Smoldering peat dominates the finish, which dulls some of the effusive fruitiness that’s evident earlier in the experience, but it’s otherwise an exciting little journey that makes me wonder why this wasn’t released in November. 96.8 proof. B+ / $91 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
GlenDronach Ode to the Dark Review
An “indulgent” expression aged in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, which is something of a GlenDronach trademark. An intense shade of well-steeped tea, this is indeed a decadent whisky that invokes aromas of cherries dipped in dark chocolate, sweetened coffee, toasted coconut, and ginger. Racy and aromatic, it’s immersive and heady, in small part thanks to the outsized abv. The palate does not stray far from the above, and the PX sherry is in ample evidence here, showcasing its oxidized wine core, lightly balsamic, alongside rich notes of dark-roast coffee and chocolate-covered almonds. More vanilla, baking spice (lots of cloves), and a pop of earthiness inform the finish. This is perhaps the most straightforward of these three whiskies, but it was easily my favorite. 101.6 proof. A / $98 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
The post Review: GlenDronach Master’s Anthology – Ode to the Valley, Embers, and Dark appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.