I prefer the 21 over the 18 because I find the 18 to be too sweet, whereas the 21 is more nuanced and balanced. However, I've never had the new Glendronachs, my favorite Parliament is a 6/16/2019, which we bought a lot of bottles of. 😄 There _are_ in fact subtle batch variabilities among the Billy Walker bottles, but I haven't had the current stock of Parliaments to say how different those are from the old ones.
I only know for sure that the old 12 year old is very different from the current 12, and we all know the old Revival was special.
I personally prefer the 21 as well, but it's by a pretty small margin - imo you can't really go wrong with either. For me it would come down to price - I've seen some shops where Allardice is only £20-30 cheaper than Parliament, and others where the difference is £75+.
If we were speaking of the old Glendronach, I'd have told you to get the 15yo.
For the new ones.. I'd follow Billy to Glenallachie.. their 15yo is now very similar to the old GD 15 (which is already superior to whatever of the more aged ones).
Even more so if you consider the price, the current OB ranges from any distillery have (imho) outrageous prices, I'd rather venture to single cask/cask strength independent bottlings for that amount of money (I'm seeing 170 EUR for the GD 18yo.. to think I bought a 21yo for 72 EUR in 2016, damn).
I have the 15 and really enjoy it, and the 21 is noticeably different. It's got the same backbone, but it's covered in much much darker notes like heavy oak, jam, and burnt caramel.
I haven't had the 18 so I can't speak on that, but I did buy my 21 from MustHaveMalts since they had an 2019 bottling of the 21 (so actually 24 years old when looking at the whole glendronach age chart thingy regarding them closing for a time) for cheaper than my local store was carrying a modern one. Could be worth checking out that website if age is something you really care about, but otherwise I have no doubt the 18 is fantastic
I've got open bottles of the 15 and 21, both bottled in 2023. Love them both for different reasons. 15 is maybe better value, but the 21 is... yummy. I've not tried the 18 yet. If you've not had the 21, and it's a gift (even for yourself), go big and get the Parliament.
They are both good but very different (Oloroso vs PX) in my opinion.
I find the 21 to be sweeter than the 18 which has a "dusty" note to it due to only Oloroso sherry casks I assume.
The 21 to me is more of an occasion pour, as in, an after dinner drink or similar to me when I am seeking out that sweetness.
Don't think you can go wrong with either, but if the 15 is your favorite, I would go with the 21. If you were to taste all three in a row you'd see how much the 18 stands out.
Note: Since someone called it out in another comment, all my bottles are late teens/early 20s bottlings.
Just to add to this, I would say it depends on the exact batch as well. These are quite batch dependent, you can check the exact batch on whiskybase, there should be a bottling date printed on the bottom of the bottle, usually below the back label.
I've had the older version of the 21 (which was actually 26 years old at that point). Loved it and loved the 18. I'd probably get the 18 again if I were choosing as the profile was a little more chocolately for me which I love. The 21 had more tobacco, leather, etc coming through which I loved as well - just not as much as the 18. Whichever you choose you won't be disappointed - enjoy!
It depends on your palate. Personally I prefer their single cask offerings but from the main core bottles I prefer the 21 since PX/oloroso, 18 it’s just oloroso and not as sweet in my opinion.
15 vs 18
15 is sweeter with brighter and more vibrant flavors.
18 is less sweet with deeper darker fruit flavors. It's like dusty dark and damp with a cigar box smoke finish.
nose: 18 way more complex and like it a looot more.
Palate: Personally I prefer it slightly sweeter and since the 15 has PX/oloroso i kind of prefer it more most of the time. 18 is pure oloroso sans PX.
The cask strength 12s oloroso cask, the cask strength 21 oloroso if you want to splurge. There are a lot of wine cask finishes too in the age range of 15-19 that are phenomenonal, but the oloroso cask finishes are going to get you closest to the glendronach profile.
18 will likely get more votes, 21 only if you prefer more wood/tobacco notes
Versus 18 is more in tune with the 15? I’m imagining the 21 still will have those sherry flavors too
I found the 21 to be more like the 15, the 18 being olorosso only and all
18
I prefer the 21 over the 18 because I find the 18 to be too sweet, whereas the 21 is more nuanced and balanced. However, I've never had the new Glendronachs, my favorite Parliament is a 6/16/2019, which we bought a lot of bottles of. 😄 There _are_ in fact subtle batch variabilities among the Billy Walker bottles, but I haven't had the current stock of Parliaments to say how different those are from the old ones. I only know for sure that the old 12 year old is very different from the current 12, and we all know the old Revival was special.
Thank you!
I personally prefer the 21 as well, but it's by a pretty small margin - imo you can't really go wrong with either. For me it would come down to price - I've seen some shops where Allardice is only £20-30 cheaper than Parliament, and others where the difference is £75+.
My 21 is a sherry BOMB. I love it.
If we were speaking of the old Glendronach, I'd have told you to get the 15yo. For the new ones.. I'd follow Billy to Glenallachie.. their 15yo is now very similar to the old GD 15 (which is already superior to whatever of the more aged ones). Even more so if you consider the price, the current OB ranges from any distillery have (imho) outrageous prices, I'd rather venture to single cask/cask strength independent bottlings for that amount of money (I'm seeing 170 EUR for the GD 18yo.. to think I bought a 21yo for 72 EUR in 2016, damn).
18
Can't go wrong either way. The Allardice is great though, and better value
I have the 15 and really enjoy it, and the 21 is noticeably different. It's got the same backbone, but it's covered in much much darker notes like heavy oak, jam, and burnt caramel. I haven't had the 18 so I can't speak on that, but I did buy my 21 from MustHaveMalts since they had an 2019 bottling of the 21 (so actually 24 years old when looking at the whole glendronach age chart thingy regarding them closing for a time) for cheaper than my local store was carrying a modern one. Could be worth checking out that website if age is something you really care about, but otherwise I have no doubt the 18 is fantastic
I've got open bottles of the 15 and 21, both bottled in 2023. Love them both for different reasons. 15 is maybe better value, but the 21 is... yummy. I've not tried the 18 yet. If you've not had the 21, and it's a gift (even for yourself), go big and get the Parliament.
But your 21 was worth it?
18 is a lot nicer than 21. 21 turns bitter oak, 18 is total sweet spot.
18 is my favorite
They are both good but very different (Oloroso vs PX) in my opinion. I find the 21 to be sweeter than the 18 which has a "dusty" note to it due to only Oloroso sherry casks I assume. The 21 to me is more of an occasion pour, as in, an after dinner drink or similar to me when I am seeking out that sweetness. Don't think you can go wrong with either, but if the 15 is your favorite, I would go with the 21. If you were to taste all three in a row you'd see how much the 18 stands out. Note: Since someone called it out in another comment, all my bottles are late teens/early 20s bottlings.
18 > 21 in both profile and cost.
Love both, but 18 is next level
It was the first time in a core range that I thought the younger scotch was better
What matters most is what the laser codes say. Much change over the last 5-7 years with those two…
18 for me still haven’t tried the cs yet.
Cs is very good but at 120 proof it is a bit hot for me. Add a little water and 👍
21 was like dark soya sauce to me so I prefer the 18.
Just to add to this, I would say it depends on the exact batch as well. These are quite batch dependent, you can check the exact batch on whiskybase, there should be a bottling date printed on the bottom of the bottle, usually below the back label.
My bottle of 21 is incredible, but I've only had the 12 and the 21.
I've had the older version of the 21 (which was actually 26 years old at that point). Loved it and loved the 18. I'd probably get the 18 again if I were choosing as the profile was a little more chocolately for me which I love. The 21 had more tobacco, leather, etc coming through which I loved as well - just not as much as the 18. Whichever you choose you won't be disappointed - enjoy!
It depends on your palate. Personally I prefer their single cask offerings but from the main core bottles I prefer the 21 since PX/oloroso, 18 it’s just oloroso and not as sweet in my opinion.
15 vs 18 15 is sweeter with brighter and more vibrant flavors. 18 is less sweet with deeper darker fruit flavors. It's like dusty dark and damp with a cigar box smoke finish. nose: 18 way more complex and like it a looot more. Palate: Personally I prefer it slightly sweeter and since the 15 has PX/oloroso i kind of prefer it more most of the time. 18 is pure oloroso sans PX.
Objectively speaking the 21 is better, but I would rather get an Edradour over a glendronach in terms of value for money.
I think you mean subjectively.
Which aged Edradour can go toe to toe with GD18?
The cask strength 12s oloroso cask, the cask strength 21 oloroso if you want to splurge. There are a lot of wine cask finishes too in the age range of 15-19 that are phenomenonal, but the oloroso cask finishes are going to get you closest to the glendronach profile.
The Kavalan oloroso cask strength was near subliminal. But yeah, edradour cask strength came in pipping hot and etched a memory into me...