Glendronach Parliament Aged 21 Years is the oldest of the Speyside distillery’s core range. It’s the top notch Whisky for the Brown-Forman-owned brand and a nod to the distillery’s serene surroundings.
Matured in a combination of the finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for a minimum of 21 years, the Parliament continues the GlenDronach tradition of offering fruit-laden intensity in its single malts. The expression was dubbed ‘Parliament’ after the colony, or ‘parliament’, of rooks that have been nesting in the trees that overlook the distillery for almost 200 years.
The Parliament appears deep amber in color with a cherry wood sheen. According to the distillery, the nose features a delicate mix of ripe autumnal fruits – notably blackberries and red plums. There are rich Oloroso sherry and candied orange segments, along with spiced oatmeal biscuits and toasted oak fragrances, bringing the spirit good weight and balance. On the palate, flavours of fine Oloroso sherry and bitter chocolate sauce are infused with spicy notes of cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. It’s full bodied with smooth tannins. The finish is long and lingering.
Bottled at 48%, the ‘Parliament’ is non chill filtered and of natural color. It comes in at a price of £150 ($185 USD).
Founded in 1826 by James Allardes, the distillery is located near Forgue, by Huntly, Aberdeenshire. Glendronach was the second distillery in Scotland to apply for a licence to legally produce whisky. The distillery draws its water from the Dronac burn within the distillery grounds. It has its own floor maltings and two wash stills in addition to two spirit stills.
Other expressions of Glendronach include the Original Aged 12 Years, Revival Aged 15 Years, and Allardice Aged 18 Years, as well as a number of limited edition bottlings.
Glendronach Parliament Aged 21 Years Ratings:
- Distiller: 4.42/5
- The Whiskey Wash: 89/100
- Whiskybase: 89.08/100