Whisky Focus - GlenDronach 38 Year Old Wins Top Malt Maniacs Award

A GlenDronach 38 year old has become the highest scoring whisky out of 262 entries in the 2010 "Malt Maniacs" Awards. But don't all rush out to the shops to buy a bottle as it was bottled exclusively for the Taiwanese market.

The GlenDronach 1972, at 49.5% from cask no. 700, an oloroso sherry butt, and a Taiwan exclusive, achieved a gold medal, 90 points and was also the winner of the "Non Plus Ultra" Award 2010 - which means it was the overall top scoring ultra premium whisky out of all the entries.

Malt Maniacs say theirs is "probably the world's most independent whisky competition. And perhaps the most gruelling!"”

Other GlenDronach expressions did well in the competition. The GlenDronach 31 year old Grandeur won a silver medal and 88 points while the Allardice 18 year old won a bronze medal and 83 points.

BenRiach also excelled in the awards. The 30-year-old achieved a silver medal and 85 points and the BenRiach 17 year old Rioja Finish and the 20 year old also won bronze.

Regional Sales Director Alistair Walker was delighted: "To be awarded first place ahead of another 261 fine whiskies is a wonderful achievement. The 38-year-old is an astonishing malt with a very special and intriguing character, and is testament to the skill of our craftsmen at the distillery. 1972 was clearly an extraordinary year."

The "Malt Maniacs" award is the latest accolade for the company in the last eight years. Top awards include BenRiach becoming Whisky Magazine’s World Distiller of the Year 2009 while the GlenDronach 15-year-old won the Gold Medal and was Best in Class in the 2009 International Wine & Spirits Competition.
 

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