GlenDronach releases ‘surprising’ Peated Port Wood

The GlenDronach Distillery has expanded its peated offering with the launch of a single malt expression that has finished ageing in Port pipes from the Douro Valley.

The Highland distillery's latest bottling, called The GlenDronach Peated Port Wood, is inspired by the import of casked Port into Scotland in the 19th century. Peated Port Wood is made using malted barley that has been dried in the 'old style', using Highland peat, and the whisky has undergone its final maturation in Port pipes from the Douro Valley in Portugal. Rachel Barrie, whisky maker at The GlenDronach, said: “The GlenDronach Peated Port Wood may be considered a surprising expression from this distillery but is in keeping with historical styles.” She continued: “Peat imbues the spirit with regional notes of wood smoke and smouldering charcoal, layered over The GlenDronach’s archetypal fruitiness." Bottled at 46% abv, The GlenDronach Peated Port Wood is non-chill-filtered. It is “dark amber with a ruby heart” and the palate is said to have notes of “tart cranberry juice with waves of Highland smoke, rich, stewed barley and lingering, smouldering charcoal”. The GlenDronach Peated Port Wood is available now from a range of whisky retailers for £59.95 (US$79) for 70cl. Brown-Forman-owned GlenDronach moved into peated whisky in 2015 with the launch of The GlenDronach Peated.