whisky review 330 - GlenDronach 1993 19yo Single Cask 487

. . . a very good 'craft produced' sherry-matured single malt scotch, proving oloroso is not always sugar-sweet confectionary.

[@grbadalamenti]

Here we are in 2018 when Glendronach is bottling more casks of 1993 as 25YO Single Cask, cask strength, for this and that. For example in Italy we get a bottling of cask 657 for Beija Flor, an italian importer. These bottles go on the market in 2018 at about 250 euros or more.

[@MrJayal123]

Another great review Ralfy. Picked up a bottle of this when I went to the Distillery prior to my wedding with my best man back in June. Amazing bottle - went down a treat on the big day. Glad it made it on to your review list! Great distillery! Keep it up!

[@Jungle6900]

Hey Ralfy! Thanks again for all you do for the whiskey community! Keep the info comming oh great nosed one! So much to learn from your years of experience!! Great stuff!!

[@KickedOuttaHell]

Watching this video while enjoying a dram of that very same bottling was fun and helpful. Hearing you get specific about all the smells and tastes you can pick out helps me develop my ability to nail down certain things I notice. You provide a great service for burgeoning malt enthusiasts such as myself.One request, I'd love to see you review one of the old ardbeg single casks (OB or indie bottling) that no one can afford anymore. A tease for most but there are no vids like it online yet...

[@speedmatters]

Ralfy, happy 2013 and thank you for the education over the past year. After spending 20 years drinking & learning about red wines, I have learned a lot and had good fun taking my own whisky journey based on your advice. Sadly, I will now have to suspend watching your videos because they always culminate in a late night, on-line purchase, occasional buyer's remorse, a wee hangover! Acquiring first hand experience of whisky takes a lot longer than wine & costs considerably more!

[@camillebrenes]

Just started a 12yr old GlenDronach, and loving it Ralfy. Here in the USA so hard to find this one. May just have to order it from the UK and have it shipped over. Trying to decide between this one or another Aberlour. Picked up a Glencairn glass and really happy with it too Ralfy. Love your new electronic aid too. ;) -C

[@TokyoTraveller]

Hello Ralfy, Your reviews have made the appreciation of whisky more accessible. Thank you for your continuing work. I have a small question: On your whisky of the year review, you mentioned that you don't like to give awards, but you also mentioned that you have a short list of great whiskies for the year that Glendronach was at the top of for this year. Will you reveal the whiskies on your short list, or is that too much like giving an award to those whiskies? Thanks.

[@DavidUKesb]

Nearly all these Glendronach Single Casks are outstanding. Blows Macallan and Glenfarclas out the water!!

[@WinSchutten]

I think I figured it out now. the color may come from more tannins in the wood, but not the sherry. While you still get sherry flavor but not the color. Thats how I fit your observation of poor quality sherry with the info of the previous singlemalttv clip. Learned another thing Ralf! Thank you :).

[@jrscott100]

I understand. However, I still think it would be educational and help new malt hounds to appreciate the good stuff. Not to mention it could be quite entertaining! Either way, thanks for the videos.

[@123pagan123]

one bottle of this fine whisky found its way to Norway .... lovely stuff

[@darkfrenchman]

Looking forward to the sherry challenge. Had a few tastes of it a few years back, liked it, but silliness ensued (speaking in english accents, handwaving, etc). It will be nice to learn.

[@jmoooomomo]

Like the new jacket for the new years, Ralfy!.And keep up the good work Ralfy, I've learnt a lot over the last year since I discovered your reviews!

[@Temperdgrump]

Interesting closing comments. Murray talks a lot about sherry cask contamination but never explained how this happens. Thanks for the info.

[@japanesesandman]

I see the new cap/jacket of the year! Looking forward to another year full of Spirit reviews!

[@schwarzblatt]

This whisky has a gorgeous colour to it. Can't wait to sip a dram.

[@deepwoodskentuckian]

hope you have a great year ralfy! I enjoy your reveiws and watch everyone

[@adamhunter1223]

Thumbs up for egregious and amazing use of sonic screwdriver.

[@bigd4576]

bigwdaddy Found a bottle of GlenDronach 1993 19yr single cask at Abbey Whisky, glad I did. You are a wealth of information. Drink well.

[@knarfzxc]

A suggestion Ralfy, you could pre-wash the walls with Borax (sodium borate) to kill the mould/mildew. Or mix-up some "Casein Borax Paint" also known as "Milk Paint". I would pre-wash with Borax then use the Milk Paint . . . cheers.

[@kidsafe]

K&L here in the US has bottles from a sister cask arriving soon. Description is the same, a 1993 vintage 19 year single cask offering.

[@mvdw01]

Loving you`re vids Ralfy! Big thumps up from The Netherlands!

[@qlpin0]

I love your wand-lightsabre like device! It would be really cool if You'd use more of gadgets like this. Really extentric stuff!

[@pete37038]

I got a bottle of this for Xmas, it's quite simply phenomenal!

[@MaciekP2]

BTW....no problem with availability in Poland, so not only UK! Great selection of Glendornach single cask bottles

[@espang10]

Cool, thanks! Haha, I can imagine it was hard to surpass last year's "hidden treasure", but I really like the simplicity of the nature scenes. It's a big contrast to your Springbank Distillery series a couple years ago.

[@BrothuhV84]

So that's where you get all your malty facts from, Ralfy! You've got a malt Tardis! It all makes sense now! ;)

[@Maltmeister1]

Hiya Ralfy,,, From what I have learned is that from 15 to 20 years the spirit is in balance with the cask but then the cask takes over and imparts its dominance over the spirit.You mention the rich sherry nose and taste along with dryness and tannins being prominent,,is this a clue to the master distiller as to when bottling should happen with GlenDronach.Are the older bottlings as good as say the 12,15 or 19 year???.Cheers to the aqua vitea.

[@Theo2482]

Hi Ralfy, Happy New Year! Are you planning to review the new Japanese whisky Chichibu? Thanks and keep up the fantastic work (i mean the vlogs, not your everyday job...hehe)

[@texlad04]

We had a single cask Pedro Ximenez (Cask 2044?) 15 year in the US. It was magnificent. Same brown tube. My friends and I cleared out what came into Dallas. The 15 year Revival is just no comparison. Massive dark chocolate and super dark fruit.

[@narbezohrabi245]

Ralfy always exited to watch a new video. My Whisky club has grown to 16 people and we love watching some of your videos during our meetings. We always have a couple normal priced bottles and one very special one. With 16 people we can now afford some expensive stuff and I was thinking Bowmore Bicentary. Have you tried it? If so is it Ralfy aproved? I see great reviews from sites you have mentioned and I also see there are a few different versions of it. Any advise would greatly be apreciated.

[@RadioLaboratory]

Hey Ralfy. Great vlog! I recv'd a version of th 2010 jumper as Xmas present! Quite warm! ...thinking of dying it w/e150! yor2funny! Hey Ralfy bettr get that gizmo bac2 DrWho B4 he realizes its gone!! cheers maltmate

[@mccandless1]

Ralfy, a random one here but might you review Georgia Moon corn whiskey? I bought a bottle after an Elijah Craig and would value your input on this 'individual' whiskey :D Keep up the great great work.

[@frenchkids]

I bought the PX version of this. It's intense, especially with the addition of water.

[@TokyoTraveller]

Thank you, Ralfy

[@TheBritishLegions]

Benriach prodeuced some good stuff the Tawny Port 15 year peated was a belter! Plus the rum 15 year was also like a moist malty rum cake nom nom!

[@PeatSmokey]

Ok Ralfy...I think I am seeing the contrast. Is it safe to say the 2012 was the Bourbon Jumper and 2013 is the Sherried Jumper!!! Peace

[@BeerGogglesReviews]

Great stuff Ralfy. I'm gonna have to get me something GlenDronach. Got diabetes, so it'll probably be their gift set of miniatures. Have you reviewed any miniatures?

[@Wayfarer8]

Hello, Ralfy. I want to ask You about a Catto's blended scotch whisky. It's an old brand, and I think, that such whisky is a good example of an old blends and it will be interesting to hear a history of this brand.

[@jrscott100]

@Jason Scott didnt mean to post yet.. could you do a series on whiskies you consider to be of poor quality. I think this would be just as helpful and educatonal.

[@DerHOBBA]

Yeah! First of 2013. Ralfy, what Sherry-Cask Whisky would you recommend for a beginner?

[@machpe]

I finally figured out what's been missing from my whisky enjoyment, I need a sonic screwdriver!

[@WinSchutten]

You can tell if the sherry content was poor from a sherry cask? It was mentioned in a singlemalttv clip that the darker color from sherry casks comes from wood not sherry unless the cask has been maturing sherry for a long time. That otherwise the sherry wouldve left the cask and it is darker because sherry casks are just toasted, not charred. Now I dont know whats what lol.

[@moristar]

Thanks! Missed that one!

[@nickwatson8641]

I recently picked up a bottle from Cask 490 in the US (K&L Wines). It's pretty good, gives the 15 a run for the money.

[@timejiff]

I can usually tell if you like a whiskey initially, by how much you drank already. Am I right? Or does it take glass after glass to nail down all the tasting notes on some malts?

[@jrscott100]

love your reviews! could you do a series on whiskies you comsider

[@Willumpie]

This sulphur discussion is quite interesting. I first read about it in Jim Murray's latest bible. I was astounded. Seems like a big issue. Especially because apparently one third of the human population (mostly Western Europeans?) can't smell sulphur? Makes me wonder wether I'm able to detect it. It's the smell of rotten eggs essentially, right? Like a very bad sewer? But then subtler of course since the bad whisky is blended with good whisky to mask it?

[@JimmyLeg]

Ralfy, do you post any reviews on Whiskybase?

[@MrKinaidos]

Or maybe there is certain amount of skill or craft that went into preparing casks that we've just lost to some extent? Maybe a coopers and cask-masters guild certification or something like that is needed.

[@sikhpilot.]

Roughly how much was this 8 years ago Ralphy?

[@borismorrison]

I'm following your stuff some time now. I'm interested what is the best whisky (your opinion) that you ever taste. I couldn't see that you mark anything more than 91-92. I think that you like more peated whiskies (just like I prefer sherried), so sometime you are loosing objectivity. In any case I truly enjoy watching your videos. Maybe you talk to much but usually you say one or two sentences which strike direct in the center! Slaandjivaa!

[@BrothuhV84]

Haha, loved the sonic screwdriver!!

[@pete37038]

The cask strength batch 1 is fantastic also :-)

[@MaciekP2]

I've just bought cask 536. It is rather expensive whisky. I hope to check it soon....

[@sikhpilot.]

How much was it back then?

[@thillio]

Billy Walker might just indeed be the smartest man in the business ... :)

[@MrDarshan84]

My first thought was that you were holding a light-sabre! What is that thing and why were you buzzing the bottle with it?

[@espang10]

Hey Ralfy, what was the title and artist of the background music in your New Year's video? Thanks in advance

[@skinnypez]

Ralfy's Whisky of the Year 2012 was the Glendronach15 Year Revival..see his Whisky review 195..he already reviewed this one...there is probably some slight batch variation from 2011 when he reviewed until now, but it should be pretty close, and he wouldn't pick a whisky as Whisky of the Year if is was always varying in quality

[@mexxensimon]

New Jacket! now i know its a new year!!

[@SuryaDe]

Like for the MV mention

[@DerHOBBA]

thank you very much :)

[@PeatSmokey]

Ralfy your new attire looks suspiciously akin to the 2012 maltmaster jumper. From a smartphone perspective it kinda looks exact. C'mon maltmate ya gotta get a little funky now and again...No?? Cheers Ralfy.

[@Metagrinner]

Would you agree that sulfur is bitter? I avoid sulfites for this reasoning

[@moristar]

Ralfy! I'm disappointed. I've bought whisky of the year and was enjoying it for whole week, still waiting for the review to compare my impressions with your's are much more experienced whisky drinker, and still somehow 19yo instead of 16yo version comes first! :) Where is consistency? :)

[@markw6031]

1:07 Ralfy is the Sultan of segue

[@cattleprods911]

How does it compare to Mac 18 (Spanish sherry cask matured)?

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . different, and now a bit superior.

[@kickore]

if you had that would've been your malt of the year instead :)

[@1stMemberEver]

Ralfy, what is that device you holding? A universal whisky detector?

[@Quentin02143]

OMG what is that thing? It looks like Star Trek meets Ralphy.

[@BigWhisky27]

Anybody know of a good website to buy a snazzy looking jumper?

[@mickey21256]

iv always drank my whisky neat never added water to it it brakes it down plus dont get drunk fast

[@WillyRanger1]

Hi Ralfy, what is the cask no. Many thanks.

[@wellbbq]

Shame, shame,shame Ralfy!!! show us the good stuff that we can't get.. 8-)

[@PingoDK86]

Hey Ralfy. I've gotten quite interested in Glendronach lately. Currently, I am considering the 15yo revival or Cask Strength Batch 2 at 49,45£ What would you recommend? Best regards

[@eflinneflinn]

Is that a sonic screwdriver?

[@narbezohrabi245]

Is the 1964 one the best? or are they all the same?

[@shuboy05]

Emergency? More like The Doctor wants his screwdriver back...

[@boozer7574]

crazy shew!

[@elsewhereman201]

Is this cask 487 or 26?

[@russ02281990]

pronounced mv agoosta.