Glendronach 21 Parliament Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

In this video Erik Wait talks reviews the Glendronach 21 Parliament Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Erik Wait Whisky Studies Facebook Group: / 1833110080244686
THIS VIDEO IS INTENDED ONLY FOR VIEWERS WHO ARE OF LEGAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE DRINKING AGE IN THEIR COUNTRY.

[@jskypercussion]

Thanks. I Just purchased it. I love the Glendronach 12, 15, and 18. And I am a Sherry fanatic.

[@cecilrobbins5182]

I have been driving for 4 days straight and finally at my destination so I can watch your review.... As also a sommelier I really appreciate your teaching style of presentation. You are concise and even eloquent in your presentation. Bravo! I had the experience of witnessing the downfall of Glendronach first hand as I was recommended the 15yr in 2019 and it was absolutely phenomenal. Got another a few months later and the same. Then my third bottle was 2021 and no mention of non chillfiltered on the tube and it was "less". So, you didn't mention that change other than in the history so, I guess you missed being able to taste the difference. After over 40yrs in wine and over 20yrs a Sommelier I was bewildered by the revelation of massive quality variations in scotch like low ABV chillfiltered scotches etc. So to witness 1st hand the fall of a giant, Glendronach...it still amazes me. I'm comparing side by side the 2019 bottling of Glendronach "Traditionally Peated" and the 2021. Sadly the 2021 is noticably lighter in color and taste but that's the neck pour so I'm giving it plenty of time to open up. But after 8 bottles of Glendronach since 2019 I morn the loss. It's not worth the price. I'm so excited for your honesty in your review!!!

[@franklampard6316]

Nice review, Erik. Sometimes us whisky fans don’t have to justify the price, we simply buy a particular bottle because we want it - simple as that. Cheers

[@cliffnorman178]

I totally agree. My absolute favourite as well. A truly remarkable whisky in every respect.

[@TheReal_DeanD]

Thanks for saving me some money. Appreciate the thoroughness and honesty of this review.

[@traviskingdon3636]

Except that it’s one opinion and I’d suggest it’s inconsistent with many others. This whisky is a belter. It’s incredible value. If your pockets can afford it then I’d suggest this is worth more than the alternative examples given combined.

[@teslaramos6360]

Oi vey I guess I may have been better off watching this before purchasing a bottle for my husbands birthday…. It was about 400 after being delivered to us in Texas (all things considered) either way, thank you for your descriptive review, coming from a partnership of craft bartenders I feel like he will be SOOOOO HAPPYYY with what he’s getting and I will definitely check in with your reviews for the future! Thanks whiskey guy!

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

I am sure he will be happy with the whisky.... just don't tell him how much you paid for it!

[@marcwhiskey]

I almost bought this for my wedding bottle. But I am glad I didn't because I think it was a bit too much for casual drinkers and a quick cheers, this one is definitely a sipper to think about. I went with Signet from Glenmorangie which still has its complexities but I think it has a different character that comes across well for what I wanted that day.

[@andyreeves8941]

I bought a 21 parliament that was bottled in July 2021. But the distiller was closed 21 years earlier in 2000 which means the liquid in the bottle is actually older than 21 years old because it had to come from the parcel of stock pre closure in 1996. I think that’s the reason for part of the difference most people are tasting between the old and new bottles.

[@tonylo6200]

How is the chilled filteration Vs the 2020? Thanks!

[@Sebastianino]

I want to know as well.

[@andyreeves8941]

@@tonylo6200 sorry for the delay. I did respond but it hasn’t saved. I haven’t opened yet so I can’t say for sure, however, glendronach confirm that there is no change to the process. Just the label. There’s a great article on Dramface that goes into detail as to why.

[@Dafoodmaster]

Great video! I've discovered the Hand Filled Glendronachs online a while back and i was wondering how much it costs to fill one at the distillery. Are you allowed to purchase more than one? I've always wanted to visit Scotland. I started my 'whiskey journey' with Glendronach's Allardice and have been fortunate enough to stock a few of those and this Parliament for future drinking (special occasion). "Wow" is the exact right term. It was the intensity and complexity, reminiscent of some of the best belgian quadrupel beers, that really showed me i had to get into whisky. Thanks!

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

I don't recall how much I paid and I don't know if you can buy more than one as I did not ask.

[@Dafoodmaster]

@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies Fair enough, guess i'll have to find out in person! have a good one

[@simonwinterstein348]

My absolute favourite whisky :)

[@ryanmcgraw8329]

Bought this bottle in 2019 when I was visiting Scotland, still haven't opened it and i'm not sure when I will

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Why not? You can't drink it when you're dead.

[@ryanmcgraw8329]

@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies saving for a special occasion

[@vangstr]

What date code bottle did you have?

[@tonylo6200]

Assuming this is a 2021 bottled? Wondering how is that weight up vs the 2020 bottled with the non-chilled filtration ...

[@traviskingdon3636]

This whisky is incredible value when you calculate the actual age, abv and quality. You mention Oloroso Sherry finished whisky many times when in fact this is Oloroso and PX matured whisky, which is very different from a finish. You also compare it to an Abunadh which is a completely different whisky and misleading. It is akin to comparing a peated Pulteney to an Islay malt. They are different.

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

It's closer to $300 in NYC.

[@Elliot_Z]

I will always have a bottle of this in my collection. Beautiful dram. I wouldn't recommend it for th3 average scotch drinker, but for a more developed palate. Not something I readily share. Yes, I'm selfish. When I want a treat... I pour my a Glendronach 21 Parliament.

[@lyacoubian]

Wonderful presentation Erik. About $250 here in SoCal (Total Wine). I found the Glendronach 21 to be incredibly rich, intense and somewhat peppery. To be honest, I prefer the Glenfarclas 25 for $50 less.

[@ConcaCon]

I once got the Glenfarclas 25 at 107 EUR (~115 USD) and it is phenomenal, indeed.

[@paulread1176]

If you can find glenfarclas cheaper than 200 pounds buy it the price in the UK you can't find it any cheaper 😟

[@ursoouindio]

Is this whisky actually older than 21 years? Given that the stills were not running about 20 years ago

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

I know they're missing the age, but I wonder how this would stack up against Aberlour A'bunadh or Glenfarclas 105 in a blind tasting?

[@pl3317]

I had all three open and compared them. This is personal of course. I had a 22 year old Parliament and Aberlour Batch 53. The Glenfarclas 501 is not a sherry bomb to me and uses old refills. I find it good value but not in the same class. Aberlour batch 53 was a proper sherry bomb, as is Parliament. I enjoyed both a lot but Parliament wasn't mind-blowing and I only paid 100 Euros. If you can get an older Aberlour Abunadh for a good price it's a buy. I like cask strength whisky and just sipping it slowly so Abunadh was just as good as Parliament. I bought 5 Glendronach 18 bottles when they were 24 years old and 100 Euros.Thats good value in my opinion. Parliament is overpriced at 200. I think the new Abunadh presently in wholesale e.g. batch 73 are not as good as older batches. I have batches up to 60 but stopped buying afterwards. Glenfarclas may be better for the more expensive older bottles but I find they use a lot of very reused barrels that lead to a flat taste.

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

@@pl3317 Thanks for those insights! Cheers! 🥃

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

@@pl3317 It's a ridiculous comparison, but isn't the Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair a fully Sherry matured whisky too? I know it's NAS and not cask strength, but I recall thinking it was very good for the price.

[@pl3317]

@@MrChristopherMolloy Maybe, I haven't tried it. I just know a lot of sherry whisky 'bombs' end up tasting lighter than I expected.

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

@@pl3317 Agreed, I think people just like saying "Sherry Bomb". I enjoy a good Sherried whisky as much as the next guy, but anything more than the suggestion of Sherry really starts leaning more in the direction of a Scotch cocktail, and I'm not into that so much; but I have wondered how a few drops of Sherry might influence a bottle of whisky. Maybe I'll try that someday.

[@rollotomassi7437]

Eric, I’m surprised you didn’t cover the older Whisky that Billy added that actually make these Whisky’s much older. When Walker took over the distillery there was dormant Whisky that he added to the 12, 15, 18 and 21 yo bottles, which changed the age of the Whisky by 5 years. By adding Whisky that was 5 years old and mixing into the 15, 18 and 21 year old bottles changed their age by 5 years. Meaning there is older Whisky in those bottles depending on the year it was bottled. Example, the 21 Parliament bottled in 2020 has Whisky that 25 year old Whisky, 2021 = 26yo and 2022 = 27yo. The 18 year old Allardice that was bottled in 2017 is actually 22 year old, 2016 = 23yo and 2017 = 24yo Whisky. The last year for older whisky added is 2023 where the Parliament will actually go back to having 21 yo Whisky.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

This bottle was a bit challenging to find. Older bottles would be even more difficult and more expensive.

[@coolyanky]

​@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies @rollotomassi7437 good afternoon gents! would you say that a bottle distilled in 09.2022 still has 27yo juice or would it be 21 at that point? i found a bottle near me but afraid to pull trigger since I've read it could be 21 at later months of 2022. thanks for your insight and help in advance!

[@toddcraw4127]

⁠@@coolyanky by law it can’t be the new distillate until May 2023 because they were closed from 96 until May 2002. There is also the fact that even a little after May 2023 it will still be older, because they have to Batch it, harmonize it and proof it down, which takes months to a year or more. Older whiskey doesn’t necessarily mean better though because at the end of these batches, they’re using a lot of really tired and exhausted casks even though they’re really old. I bought a bottle of the Allardice 18 that was from June 2020 and was probably still very old whiskey, it was really really dark, but was not nearly as good as some of the other earlier releases. It was very musty and dusty, but also very tired, and you could tell that the cask quality was not as good. I ended up mixing it with some Glendronich cask strength, and some of the earlier 18 and it really improved a lot.

[@coolyanky]

@@toddcraw4127 thanks for your input! I've been hesitant to open these bottles for the mere fact they're hard to come by and the possibility of the older age. i haven't seeing or read any reviews about some of these batches so was genuinely curious! i do agree that the allardice 18 is phenomenal!

[@michaelgonzalez347]

Total wine doesn't have stock near me but they had it listed at $269. A small mom and pop shop has it for $299. I have heard a lot of great reviews for this bottle. So now the "FOMO" kicks in, I know the price is just going to go up. The stress of the Scotch Journey. 🙂 thanks

[@jasonzhang6786]

Did you purchase it? Total wine lists it for $349 near me now

[@michaelgonzalez347]

@jasonzhang6786 no, unfortunately prices are too high. So many other quality bottles for less. Maybe 1 day lol

[@swordinstone2k7]

Tobermory 17 PX is an alternative to look at if you want a sherry bomb, 55.9% abv

[@ctaylor88]

I have a bottle from 2020, but I've always kept my eye out for another one as a backup. Well, I just found one, and it's $499 US. I think I'll pass. What a shame.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

YIKES!!!!! That is insane!

[@Pianoman1488]

I had this bottle as well as a 12 year old and actually preferred the 12 year old personally. I come from a heavy bourbon background and have been dipping my toe in the scotch water. The bottle of parliament I had was around 25 years old according to some charts I found on the internet. Anyway, I really don't think this bottle is worth the price tag either.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Thanks for watching and for the comments!

[@superodfx]

I bought a bottle for $300Au, bottled in 2021. -Do you believe the rumors of the whisky being older than the stated age? I haven’t opened my parliament still.

[@simonwinterstein348]

The distillery was mothballed from 1996 to 2002. Go figure ;)

[@cato451]

Fortunately all of my 21 YO GlenDronach bottles are from long before the Brown-Forman acquisition. Purchased at a much more friendly price I love this expression. Definitely not for casual drinkers. Sadly Brown-Forman will continue to destroy this once great distillery.

[@revolvermaster4939]

It’s probably just me, but I find after 15-18 years most whisky starts to lose the flavors I like it for.

[@swordinstone2k7]

The 21 is over $300 here unfortunately. I'm not that into sherry bombs, so I'll pass. The 15 is wonderful, sherry influenced without being a "bomb"

[@reYouMad]

He forgot to tell us Gents that the 2922 bottle contains 27 years old juice. He should know.. Funny he stated it's sovdark lol rofl. Yes sir it's 27 years old juice !

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

I never said "sovdark ". What the hell is sovdark ?

[@coolyanky]

@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies lol

[@fusemunk]

These type of whisky's - after drinking, the glass then becomes a great nosing for hours of pleasure. Few people mention this.

[@NeilImmortal]

I have only compared old and new 18 and if the 21 shows the same drop in quality then no, it is not. The 18 is not worth €150. It maybe was when it was filled with 24 year old whisky, but you cannot lower the quality of the contents and expect the same money, and then drop the integrity too (unless you happen to be Macallan).