Отзывы Whiskybase
учтено 166 заметок · текстовых 85 · полный lossless-снимок WB (полнота подтверждена)
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Насыщенный шерри-дрэм с тёмными фруктами, шоколадом, специями и хересными нотами, часто описываемый как «типичный PX». Мнения расходятся: от похвалы за соотношение цена/качество и силу в серии до критики за молодость, недостаток сложности и резковатый или короткий финиш.
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В отзывах виски чаще всего описывают как насыщенный, интенсивный и сладко-фруктовый шерри-дрэм с нотами сухофруктов, тёмных и красных фруктов, черники, вишни, сливы, изюма, тёмного шоколада, карамели, кофе, орехов, кожи и хереса; нередко отмечают «типичный PX» профиль и пряность (имбирь, перец, гвоздика). Нос часто хвалят как сильную сторону, финиш описывают по-разному — от среднего до длинного и сладкого, иногда с неожиданной мятной свежестью. При этом повторяются претензии к молодости и спиртовой резкости, недостатку глубины и сложности, горьковато-вяжущим или «дубовым» нотам, а также к короткому или сухому финишу; часть отзывов прямо разочарована, особенно в сравнении со старшими релизами, и считает, что виски не лучше 12- или 15-летнего Glendronach.
Мнения о теле и текстуре расходятся — от плотного и вязкого до среднего и слегка водянистого. Есть противоречивые замечания о сернистых и бензиновых нотах, чрезмерной гвоздике, горячести алкоголя, а также о том, что после долгого дыхания в бокале впечатление заметно меняется; вода, по отзывам, помогает, но может сделать вкус менее сбалансированным. Часть рецензентов считает виски удачным по соотношению цена/качество и лучшим в серии, особенно для любителей PX, тогда как другие называют его заурядным, одномерным, слишком молодым и простым, с избытком новой древесины и «пивными»/коньячными нотами, а цену — завышенной для NAS. Есть и прямо негативные мнения, вплоть до сравнения с коньяком и утверждения, что без PX-составляющей «не остаётся ничего», а также сомнения, что серия «Odes» повторит судьбу провальных релизов конкурентов.
собрано 85/166 текстовых отзывов · полный lossless-снимок WB
· 2026-10-08T07:03:26Z · источник evidence
A little fuller and better than the other two new releases. As many have already written, a really good drink! For me, however, it doesn't come close to the very first 15/18 and certainly not to 21. But really OK for the price! Perhaps a few more Oloroso casks would have done it some good.
нос 85 · вкус 83 · финиш 82
Very floral, fruity, and sweet. The nose is simple but refined; on the tongue, it's very rich and oily, but also somewhat spicy and slightly sulfurous. Water helps, but makes the whole thing a bit unbalanced. Typical Glendronach, a good alternative to the now too expensive 18!
Quite rich relative to the others in the series. Alcohol soaked prunes. A bit hot. It’s rich albeit a touch shallow. Good. 86, toward 87 if I’m generous. Ok, 87/100
nothing special nose: feel a barrel, sweets, nuts, Chocolate, maybe little vanilla then first try: spicy, pepper, where is a sweet from nose? finish, short.
нос 83 · вкус 76 · финиш 82
Colour suggests some good aged liquid or some very active PX casks. There's some big flavours in here but it lacks some depth and complexity. Good bang for buck dram
нос 87 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос 86 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 84
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 86
нос 85 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
Good, easy
Quick notes during a blind tasting round...
нос 87 · вкус 85 · финиш 84
Ode to the Dark Coffee My dear Raisins Praline Young Peppery, almost too hot Departure Overloaded blackberry oak youth pepper cocoa
нос 84 · вкус 84 · финиш 83
After a long wait, something interesting from Glendronach? The new bottlings of the 12 and 15 disappointed me. Let's see how this new expression pleases. For its 50.8% it is quite hard in the mouth which makes me think that it is a fairly young whisky. For the current market, this whisky with a higher abv than normal is reasonably priced. Although I would still make a different choice if I would spend €75. But all in all a nice expression from Glendronach.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Banana, various red fruits, and a certain savoriness. Not the typical PX profile at first impression, after a while in the glass it opens up more and the PX characteristics come to the fore. Blueberry jam, vanilla/strawberry milkshake, raisins, |
| Вкус | 86 | Reasonable structure, licorice, red fruit, figs, wood, vanilla, |
| Финиш | 85 | The finish is quite short. Anise, red fruit, vanilla, wood, cherries, blueberries, |
нос · вкус · финиш
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
Almost textbook embodiment of PX maturation, which for this very reason doesn't involve and excite, remaining on the surface and, indeed, decaying a little in the finish.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 84 | The nose does justice to its name, with plenty of nutmeg dotting dried fruit (figs, dates, apricots, plums, sultanas), blood orange, black cherry, milk chocolate, coffee and macadamia nut. Very dense, compact aromas that do not assault the nostrils but slowly creep in, like molasses, with a background of mushrooms, musk and traits of leather. At length, waxed wood. Everything you would expect, with centred strength. |
| Вкус | 83 | The palate tingles with black pepper, chilli pepper and nutmeg, with a discreet oiliness that drags the rough, full-bodied notes of the nose onto the palate accompanied by liquorice, balsamic vinegar cream, bitter orange marmalade and a surge of cocoa. Nuts are also more present, including walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts, while the earthy and umami component seems to be lost in favour of a more vegetal and woody spirit. Hint of fruit mustard along the length. |
| Финиш | 82 | Not very long and dry finish of spices, cocoa, prunes, nuts, wood and bitter, vegetal tips. |
Typical PX aromas, but overall it tastes more like a tacked-on PX finish. Unfortunately, this NAS whisky lacks depth and complexity. The lack of age is probably the reason. The price doesn't match the quality, the 15 yo Revival is a much better choice.
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
нос 84 · вкус 85 · финиш 85
нос 84 · вкус 84 · финиш 83
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 84
For me, the best from the Ode to the... series A delight for the nose My criteria: Up to 30 for giving as gifts up to 60 good whiskies up to 90 very good over 90 top
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 85 | Sweet and fruity, sherry, cherries, dark chocolate, walnuts |
| Вкус | 80 | It starts off sweet and fruity and slowly becomes pleasantly dry. |
| Финиш | 75 | Long, fluctuating between sweet and dry (dark chocolate) |
Punches far above its weight class with a sensory profile rarely found in whiskies under ₩200,000. Aside from a heavy-handed clove note that outpaces even Macallan, there is very little to critique here.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Opens with concentrated dried fruit notes centered on rich raisin and tart plum skin. Spicy, cooling aromatics of clove, cinnamon, black pepper, and mint make an exceptionally bold, almost aggressive impression. Slightly funky savory depths emerge via rich chocolate and fermented soybeans (cheonggukjang/doenjang notes). Concludes with a brief flash of sulfurous, fuel-like gasoline notes that may prove off-putting to some. Uncommon complexity for a bottle under ₩200,000; while the components feel slightly unnaturally blended, the overarching structure remains impressive. |
| Вкус | 86 | Unmistakably sweet right out of the gate. Driven by a rich fruit core, though leaning more toward tart red berries like cranberry compared to the nose. Dignified, non-spicy woodiness combines with cinnamon and clove heat—though the clove presence leans slightly intrusive. Delivers a distinct earthy coating of wet clay and paper clay, reminiscent of Campbeltown malts. Grounded by warm bakery notes of crisp butter cookies, roasted nuts, and baked bread. Aside from the heavy clove, nothing feels severely out of place, though its youth leaves the palate slightly thin with limited structural layering. |
| Финиш | 86 | Evokes a warm slice of fresh bread spread with tart cranberry jam. Transitions into the humid dampness of wet wood. Cooling clove and mint deliver a clean, refreshing lift. Fades out on a soft, lingering touch of cocoa. The heavy clove that felt slightly disruptive on the palate redeems itself in the finish, providing a wonderfully crisp closure. |
нос 87 · вкус 85 · финиш 85
Batch: N1508326243 L110017395-1291
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 85
нос 85 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 84 | |
| Вкус | 85 | Water brings out some pleasant herbal notes. |
| Финиш | 84 | |
I got myself a 10cl sample. I was rather disappointed at the first two tastings and at times didn't know what I was getting in my glass. I remember notes of sooty engine oil and a lot of wood. Both in a negative sense. But now that it has been able to breathe for several weeks, it seems as if there is a completely different malt in the glass. This review is based solely on my third tasting, and the malt had already been waiting in the glass for 30 minutes. [84~87] nice, there is something to discover, purchase incentive only with good price-enjoyment ratio :-)
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Sweet and sour sherry notes, vanilla, a blood orange and strawberry compote, furniture polish, Yogurette, and a subtle wood spice. I detect a hint of umami in the undertone. The alcohol is a bit overpowering at first, but dissipates over time. |
| Вкус | 85 | Initially sweet and fruity, after some swirling more wood spice and nuttiness. |
| Финиш | 84 | It now remains on the spicy-nutty side. The oak seems somewhat young, pushes its way to the forefront, and quickly becomes bitter. The malt then finishes with a medium length. |
нос 85 · вкус 85 · финиш 86
нос 85 · вкус 83 · финиш 82
Nose: blackcurrant winegums, aronia, brambles and asoefotida, orange fruit pastilles Palate: blackcurrant leaf tea, peach jelly and rosehips Finish: short finish, blackcurrant multivitamins and berocca With water Nose: madeira cake and angelica, plum jam and rosewater jelly Palate: victoria plum Finish: bergamot Tasted as part of Glendronach tasting at Melody Whisky Bar with Scott Grierson
нос 86 · вкус 87 · финиш 85
нос 86 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
Direct comparison with two different Glendronach 12 years WB 172945 and WB 258052. Although I remember the older Glendronach 12 years as very good whiskies, in my opinion this Ode to the Dark is better than the two bottlings of Glendronach 12 from 2019 and 2024. Ultimately, I wouldn't buy any of the three whiskies.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 85 | On the nose, the alcohol content of just over 50% is very pleasant and not disturbing. The whisky is characterized by slightly musty notes combined with dark, bitter chocolate. |
| Вкус | 86 | The tannins from the barrel are very dominant and are framed by nutty sherry aromas. The alcohol is never overpowering and is very well integrated. |
| Финиш | 85 | The finish is quite medium-long, which is probably due to the increased alcohol content. Initially sweet and then increasingly with dominant wood notes. |
I did expect more, all right for 60€, but nothing more
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 83 | Dark and woody with tart honeysweetness, aswell as deep, dark berries. Nevertheless no typical px whisky, rather one-dimensional. With a bit of imagination, there is dark chocolate. After a bit of time, the berries become more sour |
| Вкус | 82 | Woody and a bit sour. A hint of tart sweetness. Lots of spice, little fruitiness. Unfortunatly rather uneventful |
| Финиш | 81 | Short finish with chocolate, than lingering spice. Also rather uneventful |
нос 84 · вкус 84 · финиш 85
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | strawberry jam, dried fruit, sherry, hint of spices |
| Вкус | 85 | sweet, dried fruit(plum or grape), dark chocolate, caramelized sugar |
| Финиш | 79 | tannin, dark chocolate, oak wood |
нос 84 · вкус 83 · финиш 82
нос 83 · вкус 84 · финиш 84
Slightly oak-forward at times, but mostly just a pleasant sipper with a fair bit of PX.
Not as good as Glendronach 12yo
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Intense sherry aromas, vanilla, almonds, juicy rum-soaked raisins |
| Вкус | 86 | Intense sherry aromas, sweet, creamy, soft, dark ripe fruits, nutty, vanilla, caramel, a touch of dark chocolate |
| Финиш | 87 | Long finish, creamy-sweet, juicy raisins, dark chocolate, spicy |
нос 85 · вкус 84 · финиш 83
Blind tasting: Plums, dark chocolate, treacle, cloves, oranges. Medium-length, syrupy finish.
Nose: red fruit, dark chocolate, lots of sweet red wine. Blueberries, blackberries, liquorice, currants, sweet wet tobacco, fresh leather. Taste: sweet, soft and very smooth. Alcohol well hidden. Milk chocolate, nut cake, liquorice, cherries in syrup, linden honey. Finish: delicate but full of character — even more chocolate and sweet fruit. Strawberry, cherry, raspberry, a pinch of charcoal and cinnamon.
The score of 85,xx (Dec 18/25) perfectly reflects what I found on my nose and palate. The (presumed) effort on Rachel Berry's side I won't dispute. But the options are limited by available stock and corporate strategy/guidelines imho. For being so dark at higher strength yet w/o age statement at the retail price of roughly 65 EUR in Germany, one only needs to compare it to the new range of 12/15/18/21 to rightly guess that it e.g. is not meant to provide a "better and cheaper alternative" to the higher-priced new 15 yo. albeit being darker in color. It's surely a mix of younger and a very few older casks and not bad per se. But in regards to what many of us know of Glendro just a few years back it remains a far cry, unfortunately, and additionally has a harder time among contemporary competition by e.g. Tamdhu. PS. I wish the pretty bottle (I like the shape) and label and color would determine the quality of the content, then I'd have given it 90 p. ;-)
Nice dram, intense dried fruit nose.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Creamy, dense, black berries, chocolate, nuts |
| Вкус | 83 | Pepper, fruits, black berries, currants, blackberries, cherries |
| Финиш | 85 | Medium, immediately pepper which quickly passed, and then the development of black berries |
Glendronach 2025 Whisky Tasting
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | orange jam, nuts, smoked plum, cherry |
| Вкус | 87 | chocolate, dried fruit, orange peel, leather, light smoke, plum in chocolate, cherry liqueur |
| Финиш | 87 | dried fruit, cinnamon and pepper, nut, dark chocolate, coffee |
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
нос 90 · вкус 95 · финиш 93
Overall Review: "A good value choice considering the prices of Sherry Bomb whiskies in the domestic market" Considering the time when Sherry cask whiskies were heavily hyped, it offers excellent value for money, and even now, it is quite competitive when considering the prices of 12-year-old Sherry cask whiskies. In some aspects, it seems to demonstrate the essence of Sherry that GlenDronach pursues a little more clearly than GlenDronach 12. Of course, it is not in the same league as the official 15- to 21-year-olds, but it seems better than the 12-year-old.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | It is a sherry bomb with citrus notes, though the alcohol is a bit sharp. The downside is that the oak stands out a bit. However, I think it is actually better than Dronach 12 because the aroma is richer. |
| Вкус | 85 | The spice is quite strong, with a intense ginger-like spiciness mixed in. It is a Sherry Bomb style, but the Sherry doesn't stand out; instead, the spice and oak blend together. It is intense, but leaves something to be desired. |
| Финиш | 83 | A toffee-like sweetness predominates, followed by moderate sherry-style dried fruit nuances. |
Nose — 83/100 Rich dark fruits lead the nose, with plums and a noticeable nutty character. It is quite full and sherried, although the aromas feel more powerful than especially complex. Palate — 86/100 Initially quite alcohol-forward, with some youthful harshness, but time in the glass helps considerably and allows the whisky to settle. Rich sherry notes then emerge, with cherries, plums, prunes, dates and a little dried fig. There is a distinctly dessert-like quality, together with chocolate. The texture is medium to slightly thin, which prevents the rich flavours from feeling quite as luxurious as they might. Nevertheless, the palate is the strongest part of the whisky and becomes much more enjoyable after sufficient resting time. Finish — 82/100 Short, with slightly bitter tannins and a dry, dusty character. I also get damp earth toward the end. The tannins remain even after extended time in the glass, although they become a little less intrusive. Overall impression There is no denying that this is a rich, powerful, heavily sherried dram. However, I found the texture a little too thin for the style, while the bitter, drying finish detracted from the enjoyment. The rich sherry character promised plenty, but it never developed into the broader range of flavours I was hoping for. Time in the glass improved the whisky significantly and reduced the youthful alcohol notes, but there was still a sense of youthfulness underneath the cask influence. My impression is that additional maturation might have allowed the spirit, sherry influence to influence better.
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
Started well, quickly faded
нос 85 · вкус 82 · финиш 80
Put the Allardice 18 yo (2022) on the table and poured the Ode. My friend was thrilled :-D. Then there was the Allardice and the difference wasn't that great. Great malt, nothing sensational. I would buy it again anytime.
нос 84 · вкус 83 · финиш 82
нос 83 · вкус 81 · финиш 79
нос 85 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
Big dissappointment. Artificially sweet, very unbalanced and even bitter at the end. My second try with 3 months interlude. First impression was slightly better, just above 80 points. Now below. No comparison to the good old days of B. Walker 12, 15,18 all way more refined. Please note: I know that times have changed. There is still good current malt around. But this is ridiculous.
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 84
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 87
Ratings range from 75 to 91. I say somewhere in the middle. Just opened, so have to come back. From multiple Pedro Ximinez sherry casks. Likeable but nothing special. Back to it. No change! Rating 86. Barely. In January 2026, discussed with a friend. Color is quite dark, hence the name. Perhaps has undergone a change. Not your typical Glendronach. Dark chocolate, licorice, orange rind, a little lemony. A little bit of honey. Woody. Spice, especially in aftertaste. Certainly not a sherry bomb as might be expected from the color. High 80's rating seems suitable, but not 90. Tasted March 2026. Open some time and probably not much change so far. Tasted against the 15 Glendronach sherry cask, matured at 46%. Better, but not that much.
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 87
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 88 | Dried apricots, prunes |
| Вкус | 90 | Dark chocolate, raisins |
| Финиш | 85 | salivation |
2026.04.10 The aroma is a bit lacking, but the taste is rich and good. The finish isn't bad either.
нос 84 · вкус 87 · финиш 85
A well-constructed whisky with a particularly strong nose. The palate and finish are noticeably sharper and more astringent than expected, creating some imbalance relative to the aromatic profile. The whisky shows good depth on the nose but does not fully carry that through on the palate. An enjoyable dram overall, though the finish limits its appeal.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Rich and well-rounded. Dark sugar, hazelnut, rum raisins, plum, dried apricot, mocha and cinnamon. Balanced by some zesty orange and oak. A slightly earthy note reminiscent of roasted mushrooms. |
| Вкус | 85 | Good balance between sweetness and acidity, with a noticeable bitter edge. Cinnamon and a hint of white pepper add some sharpness. Medium-bodied. |
| Финиш | 84 | Relatively short. Bitter orange, cinnamon, ginger and white pepper. Slightly hot and astringent, with a lingering slick mouthfeel and some alcohol heat. |
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 89
нос 85 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
нос 85 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
Very modern Sherry Whisky. Dark fruits but still a bit hot. No comparison to the Allardice18 or the Parliament. Not even 10y old. Short finish. A disappointment. Wet casks? Not my cup of tea.
нос 83 · вкус 84 · финиш 83
нос 86 · вкус 87 · финиш 85
The best of the series. But still only good. Not very good. It's still far too young and alcoholically sharp. The PX casks deliver intense sweetness and umami notes. But even that only creates a brief impression of complexity. The youth reveals itself on the tongue at the latest. No depth. No creamy mouthfeel. It bites the tongue. For me, it needs water too. If you want to pour yourself a strong sherry bomb in the evening without giving too much thought to the notes, then this is definitely the right choice. In my opinion, it's not really suitable for anything else.
Aroma - ripe sherry fruits (cherry, plum), milk chocolate. Taste - unripe red fruits, watery, not mature oak. Well, so-so
It has a relatively high viscosity and a very intense bouquet. I detect aromas of raisin syrup, plum wine, toffee, vanilla, nuts, dried fruit, and leather. It's not particularly complex. It has a relatively sweet taste. The alcohol is well integrated, and it has a relatively heavy body.
Nice Glendronach. Just good. No more, no less. Excellent!
Very ordinary
нос 85 · вкус 85 · финиш 84
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 84
It is not without flaws, but considering it is a NAS bottling, it is genuinely well made. Most impressively, it avoids and even overcomes several common pitfalls of full PX maturation, which makes this dram quietly admirable.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | High volume. Orange marmalade leads, followed by cassis and prunes. Heather honey and dark brown sugar syrup provide dense sweetness, while raspberry and Fuji apple add freshness. Macadamia nuts and dates deepen the profile, with ginger bringing a subtle, spicy lift. Despite being fully matured in PX casks, the nose is unexpectedly lively, fruity, and well balanced. |
| Вкус | 85 | Medium body with coarse tannins and a gritty texture; decent strength. Wet wood and dark chocolate form the backbone, joined by dates and hazelnuts. Nutmeg appears repeatedly, alongside wild raspberry, slightly under-ripe blueberry, and ginger. White pepper adds a sharp edge, while orange albedo brings bitterness. Sweetness, bitterness, and acidity are all present at similar intensity, creating a well-balanced palate. The spicy bite keeps the PX profile from becoming dull or overly simple. |
| Финиш | 85 | Medium length, decent strength. Cassis and dates return, accompanied by wet wood, hazelnut, and dark chocolate. Spearmint adds a cooling note, while raspberry, heather honey, ginger, and white pepper linger, leaving a spicy and slightly drying aftertaste. |
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Blackberry, brown sugar, hazelnut chocolate and lemongrass. After a while a whiff of tobacco. |
| Вкус | 85 | Quite dry, woody. Blueberry, mocha and broth. |
| Финиш | 85 | Blueberry, hazelnut paste and melon. |
05-04-2026
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 80 | sherry, red fruits, rubber |
| Вкус | 81 | sherry, red fruits, chocolate, rubber |
| Финиш | 82 | sherry, red fruits, chocolate |
The nose is really something – captivatingly fragrant, with more facets than the lack of an age statement would suggest – but on the palate it becomes one-dimensionally sweet and noticeably spicy.
нос 87 · вкус 82 · финиш 84
Unfortunately, a bitter disappointment. Anyone familiar with the slightly older bottlings will not be happy here.
I quite like this. Certified a sherry bomb, and I like it!
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 89 | Brandy-soaked fruitcake, burnt sugar |
| Вкус | 88 | Figs, carnalized sugar, grape |
| Финиш | 90 | reeeeealy long |
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 86
Of the three brothers, I like the Dark by far the best. For €80, it's a very good price-performance ratio in 2025. 81-85 – Wow, really good one
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Round, stimulating sherry aroma. Blueberries, light marzipan and leather. Soft and very tasty. |
| Вкус | 83 | Strong, and the flavors are a bit lost. |
| Финиш | 86 | Medium-long finish. Still the dark fruits. Light sweetness. |
For me, it's definitely the best of the three new releases, but that doesn't mean it's a great malt. The PX casks did a great job here and were most successful in concealing its youth. I like it fundamentally, but the finish is still too harsh for me. I downgraded it again on my second try. The price of €80 is a joke. It's unjustified.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | sweet, fruity, berries, plums, some cocoa, the alcohol is not noticeable, but you can feel some youth, some sweetness like chewing gum, cherry, modern and not complex sherry but completely ok, some dryness, |
| Вкус | 84 | sweet, thick, red fruity, molasses notes, brown sugar, again cherry chewing gum, wood spice, some mocha, |
| Финиш | 83 | At the end the strong sweetness decreases and it becomes a bit bitter and again a bit spicy, here too the youth still comes through |
Comparable to Allardice, but drier and more alcoholic.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Milk chocolate, cherries in spirit, light threads of dried plum, wet leather - classic GlenDronach. |
| Вкус | 87 | Very intense dark chocolate and fresh dry cherries. Less noticeable raisins, dried fruit, wet skin - significantly less compared to Allardice. Alcohol noticeable but covered. |
| Финиш | 86 | Medium length, consistent, dry. Over time, dark chocolate changes to old wood. |
It’s a good GlenDronach. Even though it’s a new release, I think it meets the name of GlenDronach. Being purely matured in PX casks. It’s a good scotch that worth trying. It’s 50 ABV, lovely.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 85 | Smell is lovely px, with depth, not very open up at the beginning though, quite closed actually |
| Вкус | 87 | Taste is lovely, it’s entirely sherry, lovely, the high ABV gives good strength to this scotch. A bit oily but as sticky as expected. Sweet but not too sweet, it has the right amount of sweetness with some spice, should be some young scotch in it as it’s a NAS. Great one |
| Финиш | 85 | Medium. The sherry lingers in mouth and nose for a while. |
Probably the best of the three new "Odes" because of the use of heavy sherry, but as the saying goes: in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. The issue a lot of us whisky geeks have is that we experienced the Billy Walker era and we know what this distillery is (was) capable of - arguably available at prices that were below market value. We probably have a big stash of those bottlings (guilty as charged) and we have seen how Brown-Forman professionally and corporately annihalated Glendronach's once prominent reputation amongst whisky afficionados - first by dropping the non-chill filtered and natural colour statement from some of its bottlings, then increasing the prices as if whisky was actually getting scarce, and finally just not being able to deliver the quality the high premium requires. Visit the distillery and gone are the days of high quality, correctly priced hand fills, ran by people who were actually passionate for the product. But I digress. The point I'm trying to make is that we have too much background with the distillery, so when we are presented with these new marketing-led NAS whiskies, we almost feel sorry for the distillery, and because we find glimpses of "the good old days" in them, we want to like them but realistically we have to just come to the conclusion that they are too young and too expensive for what they are. I think this would actually sell pretty well if it was priced at, say, Arran Bodega levels. But that's not how Brown-Forman "positioned" the range, and hence it'll just sit on the shelves, together with the now vastly overpriced 15 and 18. A shame, because Glendronach used to be my favourite distillery.
нос 86 · вкус 87 · финиш 85
Very fruity, red fruits, berries and cherries. Later on a lot of sweetness enters, but not the sugar-like, like often happens with PX, but a lot of vanilla and even it could have been a grain whisly, that kind of sweetness. Pleasant for sure.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Smooth scent, red fruits, some spicy cinnamon notes. Berries, currants. |
| Вкус | 87 | Smooth, with only a little spicy touch, pepper, cinnamon. Berries, currants. Later on, it gains power, and some creamy sweet vanilla vibes come in. |
| Финиш | 87 | Some power now, berries, cherries, fruitiness galore. Pretty long finish. Later on much more vanilla sweetness comes in, even some kind of grainy sweetness. |
Very nice and BDF. A bit young though. It remains by far the most interesting in the range.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Good PX, well concentrated on stewed and caramelized black fruit, molasses, black pepper. Macadamia nuts |
| Вкус | 87 | On the palate: ripe, caramel, molasses, black pepper; it's heavy and woody, very PX. |
| Финиш | 86 | A long finish with notes of PX, spices, burnt wood, blackberry, and jam. |
нос 85 · вкус 84 · финиш 84
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 84 | Lots of fruits such as raisins, blackcurrant, cranberries, red sour cherries, lemon, redberries and blue berries. Sweet notes of caramel and chocolate. A tiny hint of cinnamon at the end. |
| Вкус | 86 | Starting a lit sweeter than the nose. Chocolate followed by caramel, treacle and fruitcake. Fruitiness follows with hints like raisins, blackcurrant and cherries. It turns very spicy now with notes of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Followed by a touch of tabacco. At the end a clear note of cognac. |
| Финиш | 85 | Short. With notes of cinnamon, chocolate, honey and a little raisin. |
нос 85 · вкус 84 · финиш 83
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
нос 87 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
The name of this beer is quite good, and the alcohol content seems reasonable, but the taste is definitely lacking. My personal guess is that even if it were Pedro Ximenez Sherry throughout, it would be more like a barrel rinse at best, with the flavors of new oak and new beer being too prominent.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 84 | The aroma is slightly dry and spicy, with hints of new oak and the texture of a young wine, but the overall flavor is still quite elegant. It's a medium-bodied Pedro Ximenez Sherry with notes of blackcurrant, plum, tequila, and a touch of mint. |
| Вкус | 82 | It's spicier on the palate than it smells, with a prominent young beer aroma, but it tastes quite clean. Overall, it's a bit thin and not as oily as I expected. Compared to the aroma, the taste on the palate is fresher and sweeter, with notes of orange, honey, and pepper. |
| Финиш | 82 | The length is moderate, with the same new oak, orange marmalade, and spicy finish. |
нос 87 · вкус 85 · финиш 85
Comment. Glendronach "Ode to the dark" is one of the three new bottlings with which Glendronach has expanded its product range. As with the other two new releases ("Ode to the embers" and "Ode to the valley"), it is a NAS whisky, and you can't say exactly what's in it. But I wouldn't be surprised if a few barrels were mixed in here, which allowed the whisky to mature for around 18 years. This complexity is not found in one of the cask strength bottlings, which have unfortunately been discontinued and will no longer be released. For a comparable price, the "Ode to the dark" offers (significantly) more than, for example, a Glendronach CS Batch 11 or 12. This whisky has the perfect stuff to be an all-day dram that doesn't have to hide behind a new 12 or 15, quite the opposite. The perfect drinking strength of 50.8% and its taste profile should appeal to many Glendronach fans. 88 points from me as a big Glendronach fan and I don't have to think twice about treating myself to 1-2 more bottles as a reserve. Slaintè!
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Pure sherry! Black cherries, blackberries, raisins soaked in rum, sugar, espresso, mocha, lots of dark chocolate (70% semi-sweet), the alcohol with its 50.8% is very well integrated and barely noticeable. After smelling for a while, more spices come through, the ginger described can be found, but also light hints of tobacco and leather as well as wood shavings. |
| Вкус | 87 | The Glendronach is creamy and oily on the tongue. Nothing much happens for the first few seconds, but then! It has a good attack and presses well on the tongue. In addition to the sweetness of the PX casks, more earthy, spicy notes from the casks come through. Espresso, caramel and leather notes complement the sweetness that had been predominant up until then. The impressions are a little more intense on the second sip, the ginger note is a little more present now, but is then overtaken by the PX sweetness. Everything is well balanced, no off notes, a real Glendronach that cannot deny its origins. And that's a good thing! |
| Финиш | 86 | The finish is medium-long and warming. The saliva runs down your cheeks. The sweetness is dominant in the first moments, but soon gives way to slightly more bitter notes, the leather comes through again, but there is a certain unexpected freshness in the mouth that actually suggests mint. I really like this little extra, as it adds an unexpected component to the modern PX sherry profile. |
There are no miracles - this release is proof of that. Watery, despite the strength. More reminiscent of cognac)))
Nose: wonderful sherry notes, soft, old, very aromatic! Taste: heavy sherry, not quite as aromatic as on the nose. Seems a bit over-melted and much too young. Conclusion: The Dark is impressive and convinces with a beautiful aroma.
нос 86 · вкус 83 · финиш 83
Nose: Chocolate covered cherries melting over a chocolate cake with caramel. Decadent. Dense. Lots of typical sherry flavors. Palate: Full, syrupy body. A powerful load of PX sweetness. Very subtle burn on the tongue considering the alcohol content. A sea of melted dark chocolate greets the tongue, peppered with figs and dried apricots. Overall, not much oak, but it perfectly supports the different layers of fruit and sweetness. For a relatively young whisky, an excellent, "mature" taste. Finish: Medium length with an intense chocolate flavour. It continues to the finish, now with cherry liqueur and dark fruits. Finally, the whisky fades with mint chocolate and fresh cloves. All in all, congratulations to Rachel Barrie. The master blender from Glendronach has succeeded in producing a truly great NAS whisky.
нос 89 · вкус 89 · финиш 88
Brown-Forman, please! Glendronach, please! Rachel, or Miss Barrie, please! What have you done with the distillery? I mean, we're dealing with a relatively young but well-crafted single malt here, which comes across as very clean. But this isn't my Glendronach, sorry! Blind, I wouldn't have recognized it as Glendronach either. A much darker, drier, and thankfully not overly sweet sherry. A bit spicy and peppery, which I attribute to its youth. Raisin cake, dark cherries, overripe strawberries, malt, and a touch of wood. But that's about it. It's delicious, sure, but almost any 100-proof bottling from Signatory would regularly pass it by. I just miss the character or something special! If this becomes the new standard for Glendronach at €50, because things aren't getting any better at the moment, then that's fine. But it's not worth €70-80. Glendronach can't and shouldn't presume to present itself as a premium brand right now. If we had a whisky here for around €50, I'd happily give it two more points considering the price-performance ratio.
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 84
нос 85 · вкус 87 · финиш 87
A sweet, smooth yet simple PX cask, where the PX sherry gives a rather atypical drying character.
Didn’t Macallan do this 10/15 years ago with Sienna and Ruby… history repeating… these releases will flop. As for the whisky… it’s competent…
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 87
нос 85 · вкус 85 · финиш 84
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 84
For a whisky without an age statement, this is a rather high-quality drink, especially since the price is quite tempting. Sweet, fruity, with plenty of plums in all their forms, dried fruit, and chocolate, with notes of oak and coffee grounds. The alcohol is hidden, and it's pleasantly warming.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | delicate, sweet, sugar syrup, burnt sugar, raisins, plum jam, apple pie sprinkled with cinnamon, apricot jam, oak combined with notes of leather |
| Вкус | 88 | sweet, fruity with lots of plum jam, dried apricots, sultanas, suede leather, dark chocolate, a pinch of pepper |
| Финиш | 87 | long, pleasantly warming, with an aftertaste of dark chocolate, coffee grounds and dried plums, black dried cherries, oak |
The description remains the same, but today only 96.
The Ode to the Dark is matured entirely in PX sherry casks. 50.8% ABV, non-chill filtered. The packaging is color-coordinated with the 18-year-old Allardice, which is also the most expensive in the new range. It seems to be the equivalent. Problem: it isn't. The nose offers typical sherry notes, blueberries, a touch of marzipan, and leather. Not bad – until you realize there's a young, alcoholic base underneath that can't really hide. In the mouth, I encounter the same problem: raspberry, plum, raisins – all present, but the flavors seem thin. The PX cask imparts sweetness that is meant to mask the spirit. The finish is medium-long, which is synonymous with "quickly gone". Conclusion: This new NAS line from GlenDronach isn't for me. Anyone who's ever had an Allardice 18 knows what this distillery is capable of when you simply give the whisky time. Here, it's gradually being replaced by NAS expressions that use sherry casks to mask what maturation hasn't yet achieved. A shame.
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 87
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Sherry sweetness, milk chocolate, ginger spiciness, plummy |
| Вкус | 87 | Lots of sherry sweetness, ginger sharpness, chocolatey, astringent, wood spice |
| Финиш | 87 | Medium length, initially sweet, astringent, woody spice. |
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
Too straight taste, will be good for starters.
нос 84 · вкус 85 · финиш 83
Glendronach Ode to the Dark 50.8%. 60ml sample at home, May 2025, from WhiskySite. Pretty much brown with an orange hue. Aroma is toffee and orange, raisin syrup if that’s a thing – or raisin and molasses, dates and the usual stuff you’d expect from a PX cask. Dark chocolate Turkish Delight builds over time. Pleasantly rich but also has some harsh spiritous prickle. Body is moderately oily. Taste is rich dense chocolate raisins up-front, thinning into ethanol spice mid-palate and staying spicy into the finish – but more of a refill wood ‘oak spice’ lingering. Not a bad offering – there are plenty of old sherry bombs that taste similar to this but that are ten times as expensive. This cask-led style of whisky doesn’t really resonate with me though. With water to 46%. Aroma spiritous caramel, orange, deep cherry. The water has made this crystalline and spiritous. Body is watery+. Taste is soft, chocolatey. Easy-going. Noses better at bottling strength but drinks a little better with water. 3.475/83
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Dried fruits, figs, raisins, plums, milk chocolate, sweet cherry liqueur, Christmas compote, freshly ground coffee, fudge in cream, balsamic cream, dates, smoked plum, a bit of burnt oak, slightly smoky scent but minimal, very sweet scent, nuts in the background |
| Вкус | 86 | Burnt caramel, charred wood, dried fruit, dates, figs, espresso, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, sweet flavor, slightly nutty |
| Финиш | 86 | Woody, slightly sweet, later dry, plums in chocolate, bitter coffee, coffee grounds, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, nuts in the background |
Nose has dark chocolate, black cherries, grape cough syrup and espresso notes. Box says natural color, which is very dark crimson. Nice rich, drying mouthfeel. Dark chocolate, cherries, black grapes and a medium ginger spice finish.
A solid sherried dram for the price. Cocoa and berry notes work well, though the alcohol prickle is noticeable. Reminds me of a sweeter, less spicy alternative to Glendronach 15. Finish has that curious “liqueur chocolate” vibe—fun and a bit nostalgic.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Dusty cocoa powder upfront, followed by cool mint and a prickle of alcohol. Sticky grape jelly sweetness, with leather and a hint of acetone in the background. Over time, berry notes appear with a faint rubbery edge. |
| Вкус | 85 | Starts with medium brown sugar sweetness, then sharp alcohol heat. Leather spreads across the palate, followed by sweet-tart berries. Cocoa returns, finishing with bitter tree sap notes. |
| Финиш | 83 | Medium length. Chocolate and alcohol hit first—almost like biting into a liquor-filled chocolate. Damp oak and cocoa linger, ending with a refreshing minty lift. |
нос 85 · вкус 84 · финиш 83
(tasted against Glendronach 15yo Sherry Cask, 18yo Sherry Cask, Ode to the Valley, Ode to the Embers) On the nose, dark fruits and a slight spiciness make it seem rather young at first glance. On the palate, it unleashes a wealth of flavor: pickled Marasca cherries and marzipan, dark fruit jam, intense sweetness, and a decent amount of spice. Ground pepper, bitter notes of charred wood, dark chocolate, walnuts, and almonds. A hint of tobacco and leather. The slight spiciness on the palate reveals what the nose already hinted at: this is a rather young whisky. In terms of complexity, however, it certainly doesn't need to hide behind older bottlings. The alcohol is noticeable, but at the same time it also pushes the flavors forward with appropriate force. What this whisky lacks in maturity, it more than makes up for with its intensity. In that sense, it actually has more to offer for me than the 15yo Sherry Cask.
It's very well-balanced; although it doesn't have any particularly outstanding features, it's a pretty good everyday drink.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Brown sugar, herbs, roasted nuts, stewed apples, roasted malt, cinnamon, leather |
| Вкус | 87 | Distinct sherry flavor, high sweetness, brown sugar, fructose, red jam, sweet orange juice |
| Финиш | 86 | Long-lasting sweetness, candied orange peel, dark chocolate cake, almonds, apple peel |
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 87
нос 85 · вкус 83 · финиш 83
нос 87 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
Tobacco, dark chocolate, brown sugar. Slightly less pleasurable.
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 85
нос 87 · вкус 85 · финиш 83
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 86
It feels like an AS whisky, well-balanced and without any off-flavors. It leans more towards Glendronach, and stands out as the most successful of the Ode to series, which was ultimately to be expected. As different as the malts are, mint has emerged as a common component, albeit in varying degrees - 14.03.2025
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Soft sherry profile, toffee, cherry, raisin, grape, currant |
| Вкус | 85 | Soft, watery texture, white pepper, becoming increasingly oily and fruity, cherry, currant, oak spice |
| Финиш | 84 | Medium-length, spicy and peppered mint chocolate |
I was looking forward to this one! One of the new releases of the Glendronach, and as a fan of this distillery and also the PX Cask, this had to be the first one of these series. A little high in price if you compare it to other releases of the Dronach, but if it is in sale somewhere, I would recommend it to every PX fan.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 88 | Blueberries, raisins, a little vanilla in the background, walking into a field of flowers, PX sherry cask sweetness, choclate chip cookies kind of notes, licorice. |
| Вкус | 87 | Sherry sweetness again! Just like you expect from the Dronach, red fruit, licorice again and hints of coffee beans. |
| Финиш | 87 | Pleasant, smooth and medium in lenght. The ABV does not really come up in the finish. |
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | starts delicious in the nose |
| Вкус | 86 | initially quite ok in the mouth, but then becomes a bit bitter after the second sip |
| Финиш | 85 | Unfortunately, I like the finish less and less |
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
нос 86 · вкус 84 · финиш 86
Aroma: naturally sherry! Cherries, raisins, dark chocolate Taste: Naturally sweet! Espresso, caramel, but also a hint of leather. Creamy on the tongue. Finish: Mid-course, sweet and warm
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 85
This one is for a sweet tooth. Texture is reach, chewing, baking spices and dark fruits. Great release!
Well, I don't know, it's empty. Take the PX out of there, and there's nothing left at all.
нос 89 · вкус 90 · финиш 89
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