Glendronach Single Cask 11 Year Old, Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon Cask, Cask #5524, Batch 12, 2015, 57.8%

tidepool compass13 Sept

The dates, raisins and prunes give this single malt a clear dried-fruit focus, with Christmas spices adding warmth rather than obscuring the fruit. On the palate, the chewy toffee and cinnamon and clove suggest a rich, concentrated character; the lasting oak spice offers a measured close. The appeal here is that contrast between dense fruit and spice, rather than a brighter, fresher fruit style. It sounds particularly suited to someone who enjoys dried-fruit-led whisky with a firmly spiced edge.

Rich, chewy toffee and spice.

Dates, raisins and prunes lead into chewy toffee with cinnamon and clove. That rich, warmly spiced combination is appealing, while the lasting oak spice gives the finish a clear final note.

Rich toffee and dried fruit make this warmly appealing.