The Green Welly Stop is celebrating 50 years of operations, and did so with a series of three private bottles, two of which were GlenDronach single casks. The other bottle, the second release, was an Arran.
Photo Credit: dailyrecord.co.uk
The first GlenDronach was 2003, a smidgeon under 12 Years, distilled 5th March 2003 and bottled January 2015 bottled at cask strength at 54.4% from a Pedro Ximenez puncheon with 649 bottles. The Arran, by the way, was from an Oloroso cask.
Photo Credit: thegreenwellystop.co.uk
GlenDronach 12 Year Old, Green Welly Stop 50th Anniversary, 3rd Release, PX Puncheon 4102, Distilled 11 March, 2003, Yield of 697 Bottles (55.2% ABV, NCF, NC)
Appearance: Copper, slow legs peeling off a pretty sturdy necklace.
Nose: Dried fruit, some polish (sultanas, dates and prunes), wood spices (namely cloves) and a sticky syrupy cake. It has hints of vanilla and toffee. This very much feels like the puncheon is from American Oak.
Palate: Rich sherry, with dried fruit and some dryness. Cooked cloves and molasses with hints of a more peppery spice. Hints of coffee and chocolate make it in. Water increases the dryness and some of the spice.
Linger: Dry, sweet and somewhat chalky, it remains present, yet not overly distinct in its flavors. With water, its chalkier.
Conclusion
This is a rather gentle PX cask, without too much fanfare. Definitely gets the job done, and is really a great cask to close out the trilogy of bottle celebrating 50 years of the Green Welly Stop. Congrats!!