Sip It or Skip It: GlenDronach 12

In this video I will review GlenDronach 12 single malt scotch whisky and let you know if I will sip on it until the bottle is gone and buy it again or if I will skip buying it once the bottle is gone and replace it with something else.
Sip It or Skip It Tally Document: docs.google.co...
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[@pizzawarlord9232]

Another great video. Glendronach 12 is a staple bottle on my bar. I used to love the Glendronach 15 but haven’t tried the new version yet. Would be nice to have a cask strength bottle.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Their Batch 10 cask strength release was/is amazing.

[@kaylashae3915]

Do you prefer this one or the glenallachie 12? I’m between the two for my boyfriends birthday.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

It's close, but I'd reach for the GlenAllachie over this one. Similar profile, but slightly higher proof.

[@kaylashae3915]

That seems to be the general consensus. I’ve spent all day watching reviews 🤣. Thank you for your feedback. I think you’re right with this one. Let’s hope he likes it!

[@Winkink518]

My Glendronach 12 states natural cask imparted colour.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

So does mine.

[@MrMBBM]

Up until a few years ago all Glendronachs were non chill filtered and natural color. A few years ago they removed the “non chill filtered “ , and there was a huge backlash from whisky enthusiasts. Ralfy had some back and forth emails with the distillery. They claimed it was just a technicality, and that the whisky was the same. Ralfy thought there was a clear difference between old “non chill filtered “ batches and the new ones. (He used the Glendronach 15 for tasting). However, all their expressions remained “natural color “, as is the case with most sherry matured scotch whiskies.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I knew going into buying this bottle that the community was not happy with the change, but a few people still liked the bottle so I took a chance. The cask strength batch release I have is better, so I can only imagine how much better the older bottling would be. Cheers!

[@djgenetic111]

I read in a forum from an alleged insider that they did not change the filter process, but there were legal concerns that it could be called chill filtering, when the temperature in the warehouse is low. I cannot tell a difference between the old and new version, and even at 43% it is one of my favorites.

[@robertzemko6590]

@@djgenetic111 But they have also removed the natural color statement on the bottle.

[@djgenetic111]

@@robertzemko6590 not on my bottle 😉

[@zachlacanlale]

I love Glendronach 12! A bottle I always restock and I'm glad you like it too

[@whiskeyisajourney]

It's a good one for sure. Cheers!

[@Im_Old_Gregg]

I havent bought Glendronach in years since they threw their integrity out the window. Luckily i caught wind that this change was coming and bought a case of the old bottlings.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Good move. I didn't know the difference between the two. I've only recently got into the whisky world.

[@harshasreerevanna5138]

I wonder, with all the bottles around, would you be able to drink them all in one life time 😎

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Not a chance. Especially with how little I actually drink. Cheers!

[@christinecamley]

This is such a terrific series Peter! I enjoy this Glendronach sherry bomb! I often buy it along with Glenfarclas 12 - both really nice less expensive scotch whiskies! I like your nosing and tasting notes. I didn't get sulfur with this expression and it's not something I often taste with sherried scotch. I have to look for that! I am wanting Bourbon casks lately too but this is a beauty I go back to and get a lot of delicious enjoyment from this expression and yes to a higher ABV - but it's still wonderful!! I Iove the chocolate note and rich raisins! I do wish the finish was longer! This is definitely a sip for me! Loved this video!! Cheers!! 🙂

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I mentioned this in another comment, but the batch 10 release of the cask strength GlenDronach is amazing. It's one of those bottles that I only have 1 bottle of and I need to sip it slowly so it's on my self for a long time. Cheers!

[@christinecamley]

@@whiskeyisajourney Hey I need to find myself this expression, Peter!! Thank you so much!! I will savour it as well once I track it down!! I am so appreciative!! Thanks for the history as well! The Water of Life is a must see!! Cheers!! 🙂

[@Tipsypixels]

Another great review. I hope you plan to keep this series running! The one I have is natural colour, which is only written on the box. I'm really enjoying it, I think it's an easy sipper but not a boring one. I'm also thinking about the Port Wood, not sure if you have tried that one?

[@whiskeyisajourney]

As long as my channel is going so will this series. So you are safe. It's not going anywhere. I have the batch 10 cask strength release and it is fantastic. I don't have the Port Wood, but maybe I can pick up a bottle and a few others and do a flight fight with all of GlenDronach releases I get. Cheers!

[@Tipsypixels]

@@whiskeyisajourney I'm glad to hear that. Yeah, that definitely sounds like an interesting flight. Hopefully one day you'll have a few port whiskies and do a flight flight about them too.

[@UltrahotPeppers]

Yeah as I mentioned before, I know little about scotch, so these reviews are very interesting for me. I was looking at some 12-18 year scotches today but I couldn't really get any info from the store on them, so I picked up a Henry McKenna for $55. I'm know what I like when it comes to bourbon, but I'm going to collect some scotch soon!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

The Henry McKenna and I have a rocky relationship. The bottle I have might not be the best single barrel and a ton of people love the bottle so I think I need to pick up another one to compare it with.

[@UltrahotPeppers]

@@whiskeyisajourney Yeah the last Henry McKenna I bought was not as good as others so my logic was to buy another one. Single barrels always have plenty of variation.

[@mariodervishi]

This is natural color…

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Thanks. I wasn't sure. I appreciate the information. Cheers!

[@mariodervishi]

The Glendronach have changed their bottles for the new core line. On the new labels it reads “natural colour”

[@jackthepickledhound]

Skip it. One and done. Great nose. Decent palate, for 43%. If that's your budget then it's an option and it's a key step on the journey. Super malty sherry bomb! I can't see myself reaching for it now as I haven't finished my first bottle yet.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Fair enough. Have you had any other GlenDronach offerings that you would "sip"? The 15 or the Cask Strength?

[@jackthepickledhound]

@@whiskeyisajourney There was nothing disappointing in the dram I poured tonight from the nearly full 375 mL I decanted a long time ago. The old Bunna12 I poured a few weeks ago was pretty impressive in its mellow complexity that I didn't catch at all the first time around. The GD12 was much improved with water and was very similar to a GlenAllachie 12. As far as Glendronach, I hadn't explored much, the 15 is the sweet spot, generally $99 well spent. I am still kicking myself for not splurging on an 18 or 21 a few years ago before the price spiked. At the time I had yet to spent $100+++ on a bottle. My own prejudice with the integrity presentation and an intellectual preference for non-sherried whiskies pushes me away from Glendronach. And, once you've traveled down the A'bunadh, GlenTurret and Edradour sherry road, these higher priced bottles are more enticing than revisiting the GD12. I feel like a snob, but I'm not really looking at bottles under $75 any more. A dirtier sherry is really my wheelhouse. I didn't like the Lasanta that gets some love and I found that my bottle of Stranahan sherry is the definition of a "sherry overcoat". It does make a nice Rob Roy.

[@johnzajac9849]

He has lately lost his penchant for........

[@whiskeyisajourney]

sherry matured or finished whisk(e)y

[@kevinnordby4808]

This one is a skip for me…..I find the Glendronachs too sweet for me. I’m very much a fan of what Edradour does with sherry maturation. The Edradour 12 and Signatory Edradour 10 might be my only sherry “sips” at the moment but I’ll keep exploring. Keep up the wonderful content my friend!!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Thanks! Edradour comes up a lot. I need to get my hands on a bottle. Thanks for mentioning it. Cheers!

[@dbkfrogkaty1]

I'm early in my single malt journey. This was one of my first whiskies. I really enjoyed it. Finished the bottle and will certainly pick up another one.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Nice. How early are you into it? I would be interested to know what other bottles have you had that you like and have you had any that you don't like?

[@TheReal_DeanD]

Sip for me as well. I got sulfur notes form this too. Wish I could get it at $45. By me these are $65 now so unless it is an old dusty I’m not buying unless on sale. I have too many bottles in the collection to drink now.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

It went up $10 since I purchased my bottle. It's now $54.99 before tax. At this price I think it's still a sip. If it gets any higher probably not. Cheers!

[@Robert.Sheard]

The 12 is the only one I've tasted from GlenDronach. I usually get sulfur on sherry-finished scotch, but it's usually not overpowering. Then it turns into plums and raisins for me. From what I remember of the 12, that's pretty much what I got. Like always, I wish they'd go 46% and no chill-filtering.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I went to Trevor's Liquor today to look for other GlenDronach offerings and found the Port Wood, 15, and the 21. They all said 46% and natural color from casks. I might end up doing a First Friday Flight Fight with GlenDronach now that my Friday series of my best whiskies is finished.

[@Robert.Sheard]

@@whiskeyisajourney Yes, that would be great.

[@Urban-Explorer365]

I love this series!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Thanks. It's fun to do. I get nervous every time I spin the wheel. Cheers!

[@dane5896]

I prefer the 15yo 🥃

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I need to grab that one. I think a lot of people prefer it as well. Cheers!

[@torbenmortensen75]

I agree the 15 is fantastic.

[@BuffaloTrace602]

This is one of my favorite bottles… if only it wasn’t so expensive I’d buy it more often

[@whiskeyisajourney]

How much are you paying for it?

[@BuffaloTrace602]

@@whiskeyisajourney it’s around $95 here

[@tonylastname6468]

46 bucks... what the buck! $110.00 in Ottawa 🇨🇦. I still like it. But I don't buy it at that price. Mind you, I've got a 🇨🇦 only release and the 18 in my retirement stash.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I will be doing a flight fight with the 12, 15, 18, 21 and Port Wood in a few months.

[@tonylastname6468]

@@whiskeyisajourney ohh... intrigued.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

@@tonylastname6468 i forgot the CS batch 10 as well

[@tonylastname6468]

@whiskeyisajourney intrigue condensed.