My sample of GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 10 leaked just a bit in shipping to me, and when I opened up the box in which it had been shipped, I knew I was in for a treat. The aromas wafting out of that package were so gorgeous I cracked into the bottle on the spot.

This is the 10th edition of GlenDronach Grandeur, a revolving series of whiskies that change from batch to batch, but all land well above the 20 year old mark when it comes to age. (We reviewed Batch 9 in 2018.) Batch 10 is bottled from a mix of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks and is bottled at cask strength. The outturn is 2,293 bottles worldwide, with 240 bottles available in the U.S.

That exotic nose is instantly engaging, intense and immediately evocative of sherry with loads of spices, roasted walnuts, wet leather, raisin and prune notes, and an incense-like character that took me back to childhood days of Turkish rug shopping with my mother. The palate is equally complex, a bit sharp at full strength, with a stronger citrus through-line. Elegant, with notes of oily leather polish, dark chocolate, and walnuts, there’s a hint of pine needles that emerge later in the game. On the finish: Some lingering heat and lots of that oily, nutty leather character. Resinous and lush, the rich sherry notes endure for ages, delighting the senses, almost enough to make you forget what’s happened to your wallet.

100.2 proof.

A / $700

GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 10 27 Years Old

$700

9.5

Rating

9.5/10