Glendronach 18 years Allderdice

Score: 75

GlenDronach 18 year old Allardice is a brooding, elegant dram that leans into its sherry heritage with unapologetic depth. The palate opens sweetly, molasses, brown butter, warm Coca-Cola, before plunging into a world of spice and atmosphere: Turkish rug shops, old London barrooms, Asian spice markets. It’s rich, nutty, and wine-laden, evoking Madeira at times, with dark chocolate and caramel smoothing out a long, ginger-spiced finish kissed by raspberry. It’s outstanding stuff, complex, evocative, and built for slow contemplation. Yet in its club tasting, Allardice placed fourth. Not because it lacked quality, but perhaps because its moodier, more austere profile didn’t grab the room as instantly as others. It’s a whisky that whispers rather than shouts, rewarding patience and attention, but not always winning the quick vote.