Review #138-140; Scotch #40-42: Glendronach 12 Shootout (Blind)

Background: Here we will be doing a blind Gelndronach 12 shootout, comparing a 2018 bottling, a 2014 bottling, and a pre 2011 bottling. The pre 2011 bottling did not have a laser code so I am not sure which year it is from, however it is from before the owner ship change.

Sample A

Nose: Savory sherry, dark fruits, plums, red berry hint, some ethanol and heat.

Palate: Medium, oily mouthfeel, Savory plums, dark fruits, nutmeg, all spice, grapes, and gingerbread.

Finish: Medium/ Longish, dry, Plums, honey, baking spices. It lingers for awhile and makes you want to come back to it.

Rating: 6/10

Sample B

Nose: Lighter sherry, not as in your face, honey, floral, grapes.

Palate: Thinner mouthfeel, honey, plums, floralness, grapes.

Finish: Medium/Shortish length. Plums, oak, and wildflowers.

Rating: 5/10

Sample C

Nose: Sherry hint, honey, honeydew, fresh hay, grassy.

Palate: Thinner mouthfeel similar to Sample B, Plums, grassy, Sulphur, slight offputting tartness.

Finish: Medium Shortish, Sulphur, Plums, some honey.

Rating: 4/10

Rankings:

1. Sample A
2. Sample B
3. Sample C

Sample A far outshines the other 2 samples in this its deeper, has much richer flavors and is overall a better drink. Sample B is decent in so far as being a good intro dram but its just ok at best. Sample C is slightly offputting and I can’t say its flavor profile is for me. However as an intro I don’t think it would be as bad.

The Reveal:

Sample A: Glendronach 12 Pre – 2004

Sample B: Glendronach 12 – Modern – 2018

Sample C: Glendronach 12 – 2014

I can say I did not want it to be true but it is, the pre 2011 12 Is clearly superior to the other 2 to me. This turned out to be the case that the older stuff is much better than the current release, at least in terms of a good intro 12 year old OB. Now is it from the mothballing and the older stocks in the pre-2011, perhaps.

I was not around to be drinking these pre 2011 offerings, but its clear that something changed between now and then with the operations of the 12 year old Glendronach offering. Anyway this was a fun exercise and thanks for taking the time to read!

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect