GlenDronach Distillery, Aberdeenshire: Deeply Sherried

Overview

GlenDronach, tucked away at Forgue near Huntly in the eastern Highlands, is one of the great sherry-matured single malts — dark, rich, and aged in Spanish oak — with a devoted following among lovers of that heavily-sherried style. It is an old, handsome, farmhouse-feeling distillery that still does things the traditional way.

The history

GlenDronach was founded in 1826 by a partnership of local farmers and businessmen led by James Allardice, one of the first distilleries to take advantage of the 1823 licensing reforms. There is a fine story that Allardice made his name in London when, unable to sell his whisky, he gave it away to some “ladies” who then demanded it everywhere — and that the Duke of Gordon himself championed it. It kept its old ways — coal-fired stills for many years, its own maltings into the 1990s — and is now owned by Brown-Forman.

The water & the land

GlenDronach draws soft spring water from springs feeding the Dronac burn within the distillery grounds (the Balnoon spring is also cited). Sherry casks and that soft water make the deep, sweet, dried-fruit style.

The distillery was a farmers’ commercial venture rather than a clan seat, built on the Boynsmill and Bognie estate lands (held by the Morisons of Bognie since 1635). But it sits close to Huntly, the seat of Clan Gordon — and it was the powerful Duke of Gordon who is said to have championed Allardice’s whisky in London, tying GlenDronach’s early fortunes to Gordon country.

Visiting

GlenDronach has a refurbished visitor centre and runs tours — including in-depth production and warehouse tastings — which should be booked. It generally opens seven days, around 10–4:30; check the website.

Nearby & more whisky

• Another Aberdeenshire distillery: Glen Garioch
• The Gordon country: Clan Gordon
• The whole picture: Scotch whisky — regions, distilleries & the oldest of all

Sources

• GlenDronach distillery — Wikipedia.
• GlenDronach / Brown-Forman.