The Glendronach Master’s Anthology is an Ode to Sherry Cask Mastery

Long-standing Scotch whisky distillery The Glendronach has unveiled a new collection of single malt expressions that celebrates the enduring legacy of sherry cask maturation. The Glendronach Master’s Anthology draws on the Highland producer’s mastery of maturation to explore the aromatic depth and character of the Scotch whisky style, which has become synonymous with the historic Boynsmill House.

The last release comes by way of acclaimed master blender Dr Rachel Barrie, who curated the three non-age-statement Highland releases based on their unique contrasting characteristics. According to Barrie, Ode to The Valley, Ode to The Embers, and Ode to The Dark each represent a different chapter in The Glendronach story, helping to chronicle the distillery’s nearly 200-year heritage.

“The Master’s Anthology is a tribute to the art of sherry cask maturation, reflecting the exceptional taste and deep character that have become synonymous with The Glendronach over almost 200 years,” Barrie said. “This collection is a journey into the heart of our distillery, where time-honoured traditions and natural influences shape every drop of our whisky.”

The Master’s Anthology opens with Ode to The Valley, which the distillery revealed is a nod to the Valley of Forgue. Located in Aberdeenshire on the edge of the Scottish Highlands, the little-known region is replete with blistering rain and rich bramble vines—the perfect setting for Barrie to weave her magic.

Ode to The Valley, a fruit-forward expression of floral nectar and summer berry notes, does just that. Matured in a mixture of ruby port casks from the Douro valley in Portugal and The Glendronach’s signature sherry casks, this release is characterised by its summer berry and chocolate de leche aroma, which leads into a baked gingerbread and sweet damson plum taste.

The second release in the Master’s Anthology takes a decidedly richer turn, representing a rare sojourn into peated territory for The Glendronach. A celebration of the ways of old when malt kilns cloaked barley grain in a warm smoke, Ode to The Embers blends smoky peat with spiced richness from Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks. According to the brand, this expression offers intertwined notes of peat smoke, with a dominance of Oloroso sherry casks for spiced complexity.

Finally, Ode to the Dark brings the Master’s Anthology to a rising crescendo. The heavy black garnet-coloured whisky has been matured in exceptional Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and bottled at high (50.8% ABV) strength. Despite this, the decadent espresso and crème caramel flavours remain consistent throughout, a flavour combination that Barrie describes as the “richest expression” of the collection.

“Each bottling is a new composition where we amplify notes but we keep the rich harmony, that is our tradition, at the heart of the liquid,” she said. “Ode to the Dark enrobes velvet chocolate over dark plum and black cherry, caramelised dates and coffee, to bask The Glendronach in rich splendour. This anthology embodies the essence of The Glendronach and tells a story of our history, our heart and our dedication.”

The Glendronach Master’s Anthology comes just a few short months after the heritage distillery underwent a visual overhaul, unveiling new packaging alongside a creative campaign in collaboration with Scottish-born photographer and director Rankin. The latest collection launched in the UK and German markets in December, and while Australian availability is yet to be confirmed, the distillery has announced that global allocations are expected to arrive in early 2025.

The Glendronach Master’s Anthology Ode to The Valley

• Brand: The Glendronach
• Release: Master’s Anthology
• Expression: Ode to The Valley
• Colour: Burnished copper
• Nose: Late summer berries and chocolate de leche imbued with sweet demerara and apricot glaze
• Taste: Sip blackberry and roasted apple crumble with freshly baked gingerbread and sweet damson plum
• ABV: 46.2%
• Price: £67.00

The Glendronach Master’s Anthology Ode to The Embers

• Brand: The Glendronach
• Release: Master’s Anthology
• Expression: Ode to The Embers
• Colour: Smouldering amber
• Nose: Cinnamon spiced toffee, apple and caramelised walnut brittle intertwine with flamed orange on a smouldering open fire
• Taste: Raisin and honeyed walnut meld with bramble ganache and smoked chocolate fudge
• ABV: 48.4%
• Price: £72.00

The Glendronach Master’s Anthology Ode to The Dark

• Brand: The Glendronach
• Release: Master’s Anthology
• Expression: Ode to The Dark
• Colour: Black garnet
• Nose: A symphony of mocha, black cherry and dark chocolate precede créme brûlée with raisin, brown sugar and ginger
• Taste: Velvet layers of smooth espresso and crème caramel fold into black grape and mint chocolate ganache
• ABV: 50.8%
• Price: £77.00