It has been a while since a Glendronach release truly stopped me in my tracks, but the Ode to the Dark has done exactly that. Bottled at a punchy 50.8% ABV and exclusively matured in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks with no age statement, this expression is a reminder of what Glendronach can achieve when the cask quality is dialed in.
After spending serious time with this whisky, I’m comfortable saying it is the best release I have tasted from the distillery in a very long time.
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Let me give that statement some context. I have tried both the reformulated 12 and the new 15 year old, and the 15 in particular fell short for me by a significant margin.
The Ode to the Dark, which sits at a similar or even slightly lower price point than that 15, outperforms both of them. My guess is the liquid inside is probably around 12 years old, possibly a blend of ages ranging from 10 up to 14 or 16, but there is simply no way to know since the bottle does not disclose it. That lack of transparency is my one real gripe, and I will get to that shortly.
On the nose, this whisky is rich and unapologetically sherried. After letting it open up in the glass for a solid hour, I was met with heavy PX influence: syrupy sugar plums, deep chocolate notes that oscillate between milk and dark, and a tiramisu quality that brings coffee and something creamy into the mix.
On the palate, it delivers everything you want in a heavily sherried whisky. There is a gorgeous dark chocolate-covered cherry character, bright fresh fruit layered alongside cooked down fruit, and a viscosity that suggests it may be un -chillfiltered, though I could not confirm that from the packaging. It is natural color for sure, and the mouthfeel is lovely.
So where does it land? I am giving the Ode to the Dark an 88. It is a score I do not hand out to Glendronach often these days, but it is warranted here. Honestly, it could have reached an 89 if the bottle carried an age statement. That missing detail holds it back just slightly in my estimation, because transparency matters, especially at this price point. Still, this is a whisky I would happily buy a backup of, and that says a great deal about how I feel about it.
If you are a fan of PX matured single malts or you have been disappointed by Glendronach’s recent core range revisions, the Ode to the Dark deserves a spot on your radar. Have you had a chance to try it yet, and if so, how do you think it stacks up against the current 12 and 15?
To see my full tasting, check out my YouTube video.
Read the full article at Why the Glendronach Ode to the Dark Is the Best Thing They’ve Released in Years
