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Whisky Review: Glendronach 21-Year-Old Parliament

Glendronach 21-Year-Old Parliament is a great buy - for now. Our review of this sherried charmer just might inspire you to stock up.

OVERALL RATING

  • Kirk Sig is a whisky connoisseur known for his candid and investigative approach to whisky reviews.
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Tasting Notes

About:

48% ABV (96 proof); 21 years old; 100% malted barley.
Appearance:
African mahogany. I could gaze upon this “splendor in the glass” for hours.
Nose:
Dark rum-soaked stone fruits like plums, peaches, and apricots. In time, the sherry presence dominates. Even though this whisky has been aged in both oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks, I get more of a sweet profile that’s native to the PX. The wood lends itself to a bit of white pepper, and cashews, along with Brazil nuts. There’s a dollop of flan, graham cracker pie crust…honey-glazed ham, as well. An odd-sounding combination of impressions, I know, but the flavors are in there. Wow, this nose is complex. I’m also detecting cloves, with a gun-powdery tang. This said, the sulfur is not offensive; it’s lower in the mix than with some other Glendronachs I’ve tasted in the past, including Parliaments.
Palate:
Mexican chocolate; hot pepper; watercress; oloroso sherry gains the upper hand; a fatty red meat note hangs back, as of beef brisket; wet ash; furniture polish; ginger snaps; black strap rum; menthol (at an acceptable level); vanilla bean; dry oaky tanins that turn bitter, along with anise. As Yoda says, “Complex, this one is!”
Finish:
Quite long with peppery oak, Abuelita chocolate powder, and a drying sherry note that ends with a drawn-out ashy death, which is not at all morbid or depressing. No, this kind of “ash” is a good thing. It mingles with tannins to help round out the almost sickly-sweet palate.
Comments:
As time marches on, Glendronach 21-Year-Old Parliament will gain more of a following, just as the single cask Glendronachs did late last year. Call me a “prepper,” if you like, but I really do think that the Parliament is a great deal if it can be had for $150 or lower. My rating might seem low, given my die-hard praise of this bottling; however, the rating cannot take into consideration the future value of such a venerable old whisky from a great distillery, and it really can’t adjust to future values, or future tastes, because I rate based upon how it tastes today–not tomorrow, or next year, or a decade from now. A few years ago, the reviews were far lower than mine. Then again, there was more sulfur in Parliament a few years ago…

When bottlings like this swansong are gone, they shall join the trappings of history – flapping their pixelated wings like rare birds in Internet auctions – the province of well-heeled buyers, collectors, and fowlers’ snares. Happy bunkering!

Final Score: 89/100

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Whisky Kirk

Kirk Sig's fascination with Scottish whisky ignited in 1987 during a visit to Edinburgh. In the ensuing three and a half decades, he has cultivated an extensive understanding of distilleries, the whisky industry, and the global whisky landscape.

Kirk prides himself on providing candid and unvarnished reviews, eschewing the prevalent flattery and fluff that often permeate whisky commentary. This direct approach has occasionally ruffled feathers in influential circles, which he views as a testament to his commitment to prioritize the interests of the consumer.

Embracing the spirit of investigative journalism, Kirk's reviews delve deeper, leaving no stone—or cask—unturned. He believes in transparency and ensures that readers are privy to any noteworthy findings, fostering an informed and empowered whisky community.

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