The GlenDronach Revival 15 YO Single Malt scotch whisky 700mL @ 46 % abv 

GlenDronach was founded in 1826 by a group of local farmers led by James Allardice. Like many of its contemporaries, the distillery has had its ups and downs over its near 200 year lifespan with the most recent closure coming in 1996 and lasting until 2002.

In 2008, GlenDronach was acquired by the Billy Walker-led BenRiach Distilling Co and it was they who originally launched the Revival single malt in 2009. The distillery’s recent closure had created a huge gap in mature stocks however and distillers were forced to use older spirit to fill out the blend. By the time Revival was pulled in 2015, it would in all probability, have been closer to 19 or 20 years old. At least.

Is it really any wonder this richly sherried, 20-year-old-masquerading-as-a-15-year-old was so popular? More to the point, is it any wonder the company deemed it unsustainable?

Now of course, this beloved single malt has returned, 16 years after the distillery resumed production in 2002, with the inevitable question of ‘How does it compare?’ hanging over it. For me, given what we know about the dram in it’s original form, it is a rather unfair comparison to make. For the record however, having tasted the two side by side at the Good Spirits Co. in Glasgow, the new actually 15 year old put up a decent fight against a 2015 offering, though couldn’t quite compete with the weight and depth of the sherry influence found in its predecessor. As a new-to-market, 15 year old single malt however, it is a very fine dram in it’s own right.