Great review, Jason. I was considering purchasing this one, but not so keen now. Another more recent reviewer also made similar comments regarding the killing/masking of the typical 'Glendronach factor' in this whisky mainly due to the age and high ABV. I am a real newbie as far as scotch drinking goes. The Glendronach 12 is an excellent-value-for-money option as far as your everyday sherried scotch goes. Your honorable mentions as far as CS sherry cask matured whiskys go are absolutely SPOT ON!!! The Glenfarclas 105 is great value, if a little rough edged, hot and spirity to my palate (I can still drink it, though!). The Glenallachie 10 (not mentioned here) and Tamdhu CS variants are also very good. Pick of the bunch (just) is the Aberlour A'bundh, it's a little more refined and has slightly a better mouthfeel than the others (there isn't much splitting them, it would have to be said). They are all very similarly priced at around the $120 mark here in NZ. At $165, the Glendronach batch 8 is a little too pricey, esp. given the 'question mark' over it's 'unballancedness'.
Very interesting thoughts Jason. I really loved the Batch 7 and was on here like a shot when I saw this notification pop up to hear your views on this. Cheers.
I don't see the 10 year age statement you mention on my bottle of Batch 8. My guess as to why a cask strength whisky would have more alcohol is simple. It's younger. It goes into the cask at a standard ABV (68.5 I think, I may me wrong). The angel's share reduces the alcohol each year. So yeah, Glendro have been waiting less and less to bottle and sell. 61 probably means not much more than 3 years old, so you won't see it go much higher.
Why would more concentrated, higher-proof whisky in the bottle you pay for not be a good thing? If it's too intense (and it would be @ 61%), simply add water. Problem solved. As for why Batch 8 is higher-proof, and being this is a Cask Strength bottling, it comes down to less losses from the particular casks in this batch.
@@WhiskyJason1 Sure that's possible, albeit unlikely given that there are rules which regulate these things and distillery policies about "cuts". That, and the fact remains that a Master Blender made the decision that these high-ABV casks were selected to make this batch, AND that H2O is the universal cure-all when it comes to high-strength whisky ✌️
In Scotland the only rules I know of is use oak for a minimum of 3 three years, do not distill above 94.8% ABV and do not use a barrel bigger than 700 liters and have at least 40% in the bottle. I am not aware of rules for cask entry proof as there are with bourbon
@@WhiskyJason1 Good point, I confused the different statues between Scotch & American whisky, and while I still tend to believe it's more likely a case of selecting higher ABV casks, these casks may have been filled at a higher strength, so I stand corrected. Again, the remedy is water, and cask strength bottlings have no downsides IMO and usually represent the better value to the customer.
I really enjoy everything from this distillery. I been holding off on buying this batch, but perhaps i will. I truly feel Rachel is rushing a lot of these new releases buy not aging them a bit more. I bet this would taste better had it been a 12 year opposed to a 10 year. Great job as always
Younger and younger stock going into these more recent batches ✌️
yep - that is the trend in the market
Great review, Jason. I was considering purchasing this one, but not so keen now. Another more recent reviewer also made similar comments regarding the killing/masking of the typical 'Glendronach factor' in this whisky mainly due to the age and high ABV. I am a real newbie as far as scotch drinking goes. The Glendronach 12 is an excellent-value-for-money option as far as your everyday sherried scotch goes. Your honorable mentions as far as CS sherry cask matured whiskys go are absolutely SPOT ON!!! The Glenfarclas 105 is great value, if a little rough edged, hot and spirity to my palate (I can still drink it, though!). The Glenallachie 10 (not mentioned here) and Tamdhu CS variants are also very good. Pick of the bunch (just) is the Aberlour A'bundh, it's a little more refined and has slightly a better mouthfeel than the others (there isn't much splitting them, it would have to be said). They are all very similarly priced at around the $120 mark here in NZ. At $165, the Glendronach batch 8 is a little too pricey, esp. given the 'question mark' over it's 'unballancedness'.
yes Glenallachie 10 is so good now
Very mean pour 😁
a mean pour?!?!?
Hi Jason! Thank you for great review. Just wondering if you had Aberlour A'bunadh before which one you would prefer between Glendronach CS #8??
I would alway pick the Aberlour A'bunadh
I had the Batch 4... It was OK. I agree with you that more alcohol is not always better, but it's great at hiding other flaws in the whisky.
that is so true!
Perhaps not as good as the past, but still a bottle I would enjoy trying. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I haven't had any old bottling of this - so I wouldn't know
They were obviously using older whisky
I do not know
Love the Glen Garioch 15 sherry cask. One of my favs when I'm in the mood for a sherry moment.
Glen Garioch 15 sherry cask = very complex and nice
Love the GlenDronach!! Nice review!! Cheers!!
GlenDronach - NICE!
Very interesting thoughts Jason. I really loved the Batch 7 and was on here like a shot when I saw this notification pop up to hear your views on this. Cheers.
Thanks AL!
I don't see the 10 year age statement you mention on my bottle of Batch 8.
My guess as to why a cask strength whisky would have more alcohol is simple. It's younger. It goes into the cask at a standard ABV (68.5 I think, I may me wrong). The angel's share reduces the alcohol each year. So yeah, Glendro have been waiting less and less to bottle and sell. 61 probably means not much more than 3 years old, so you won't see it go much higher.
maybe - but I have noticed more distilleries filling casks at a much higher strength lately :-(
Why would more concentrated, higher-proof whisky in the bottle you pay for not be a good thing? If it's too intense (and it would be @ 61%), simply add water. Problem solved.
As for why Batch 8 is higher-proof, and being this is a Cask Strength bottling, it comes down to less losses from the particular casks in this batch.
I disagree - I think they filled the casks at a higher ABV than the earlier batches
@@WhiskyJason1 Sure that's possible, albeit unlikely given that there are rules which regulate these things and distillery policies about "cuts". That, and the fact remains that a Master Blender made the decision that these high-ABV casks were selected to make this batch, AND that H2O is the universal cure-all when it comes to high-strength whisky ✌️
In Scotland the only rules I know of is use oak for a minimum of 3 three years, do not distill above 94.8% ABV and do not use a barrel bigger than 700 liters and have at least 40% in the bottle. I am not aware of rules for cask entry proof as there are with bourbon
@@WhiskyJason1 Good point, I confused the different statues between Scotch & American whisky, and while I still tend to believe it's more likely a case of selecting higher ABV casks, these casks may have been filled at a higher strength, so I stand corrected. Again, the remedy is water, and cask strength bottlings have no downsides IMO and usually represent the better value to the customer.
I really enjoy everything from this distillery. I been holding off on buying this batch, but perhaps i will. I truly feel Rachel is rushing a lot of these new releases buy not aging them a bit more. I bet this would taste better had it been a 12 year opposed to a 10 year. Great job as always
I don't think Billy Walker would have had a choice either - as he laid down the stock 10 - 12 years ago himself
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from hillbilly select reviews.
THANKS - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
You should definetly poor more whiskey in those glasses, to be able to judge them accurately. Little stingy man.
yes I am sometimes stingy
@@WhiskyJason1 ☺