Glendronach The Hielan 8 Year Old

2023-03-12

Since 2015, The Hielan 8 Years has been the entry into the standard range of single malt whiskies from the Glendronach distillery. By the way: Hielan is a Scottish word that refers to the mountainous part of Scotland that lies to the north and west of a line that runs roughly from Dumbarton via Ballater and from there to Nairn.

Glendronach The Hielan 8 Year Old (@whiskyedition)

Nose

The single malt is very expressive on the nose. The main notes are lemon peel and plum, as well as a little woody-woody-wood. In addition, a nice butter toast, cane sugar and a strong vanilla can be found.

Taste

The Highlander opens really, really velvety soft. Followed by powerful oak paired with orange marmalade and sandalwood, the Scotch transitions into a nuttiness (almonds, hazelnuts) before the development finds its conclusion in soft sugar biscuits. Fabulously delicious!

Finish

The finish is medium long and warming with spicy oak and a touch of maltiness.

Thoughts

A perfect introduction to the world of whiskies from the Glendronach distillery. Really easy to drink, the Scotch matured for 8 years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks gives a good idea of the profile of the distillery from the Scottish Highlands. As a classic representative of this region, the bottling is flattering enough for beginners and complex enough for experienced whisky drinkers. Another small highlight: the bottle is sometimes available for less than 30 euros, making it a clear value-for-money winner for us.

Rating: 81/100 - Excellent (Marcel: 81 | Sascha: 80)

Value for Money: 5/5 - Very good

Support us and purchase on Amazon*

*Would you like to buy the bottling? Then feel free to use our Amazon Affiliate Programme. You don not pay more than the usual price, but we get a small percentage of the purchase price. This way we can cover the running costs of the website and remain free of advertising.

Preview Image Source: The Whisky Exchange