Introducing GlenDronach: One of Scotland’s founding distilleries

Nestled in the Valley of Forgue, in the East Highland Hills, is The GlenDronach Distillery. One of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland, its renowned malt masters have been creating the finest, richly-sherried single malts for almost 200 years.

GlenDronach is known globally for an unwavering dedication to quality and a distinctive marriage of Highland spirit with Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía in Spain.

With an impressive collection underpinned by almost two centuries of expertise, GlenDronach is a distillery worth knowing more about. So, let’s explore its rich heritage and traditional mastery…

Looking back

Standing on the site of the former Glen House is the renowned GlenDronach Distillery. Founded in 1826 by a partnership of local farmers, the facility was one of the first licenced distilleries in Scotland.

The operations were headed by Highlands local James Allardice, who built a loyal customer base and a respected reputation over the first decade – until tragedy stuck in 1837 when a fire destroyed the distillery. Just a few years later, Allardice fell bankrupt and the distillery was rescued by Walter Scott in 1852. The distillery was rebuilt and returned to producing some of Scotland’s finest single malts.

Ownership went on to change several times between 1852 and 2016, when the current owners, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey producer Brown-Forman, took over. What started as a turbulent but determined journey is now a leading label with an impressive Scotch collection.

GlenDronach, today

Not wavering from the traditional methods that GlenDronach is known and loved for, the distillery continues to use handcrafted techniques mastered over nearly two hundred years. Benefitting from the landscape and natural ingredients of the Highlands, from the soft water of local springs in the Balnoon hills to the malted barley from trusted Scottish partners.

Using a traditional Porteus malt mill, a copper mash tun, and traditional wooden washbacks made from Scottish Larchwood, the malt masters at GlenDronach have perfected the ultimate process. The carefully curated method doesn’t stop there, with unique saxophone-shaped stills used to distil a rich, complex, and full-bodied spirit.

Filled into Spanish oak casks and left to mature in dunnage warehouses, nearly 70% of the flavour is imparted during this final stage.

Here at Whisky Kingdom, we’re big fans of GlenDronach and we have a wide selection of bottles from this highly regarded label – from a virgin oak cask expression and a release imparted with port, to bottles aged to perfection like the rare 1994 hand-filled collectible.

Give GlenDronach a try for yourself and explore the full range.