Brown-Forman brings Glendronachs to India

Brown-Forman, a global leader in the spirits industry has announced the launch of The Glendronach in India, bringing the Highland distillery’s core range of single malts — The Glendronach Aged 12 Years, 15 Years, and 18 Years — to the market. 

Founded in 1826 in Scotland’s ‘Valley of Brambles,’ The Glendronach has built its reputation through a long-standing commitment to sherry cask maturation, creating whiskies defined by depth, structure and a richly layered character and offering what many regard as the ultimate sherry cask indulgence.

Produced in the rugged north-east of Scotland, The Glendronach is shaped by the interaction between the robust Highland spirit and richly seasoned Spanish oak. Matured predominantly in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso casks sourced from Andalucía, Spain, the whiskies gradually develop their character through prolonged maturation, drawing color, texture and complexity from the wood over many years. The result is a distinctly sherried style that unfolds like a crescendo of flavor – balancing dark fruit richness and full-bodied intensity with restraint, structure and remarkable length. 

Pedro Ximénez casks contribute density, raisin richness, and opulence, while Oloroso casks lend dryness, walnut character, and spice, together shaping the distillery’s signature profile. Central to this character are The Glendronach’s distinctive saxophone-shaped stills, which produce a heavier new make spirit capable of sustaining extended maturation. The whisky is matured within traditional racked warehouses under the cool, damp conditions of the Scottish Highlands, where flavor evolves slowly and deliberately, allowing layers of richness and complexity to emerge with precision over time.

The India portfolio introduces three expressions that together articulate different dimensions of the distillery’s house style. The Glendronach Aged 12 Years offers notes of sherried autumn fruit, gingerbread, chocolate praline and orange peel, serving as the clearest expression of the distillery character. The Aged 15 Years develops this further through greater refinement and intricacy, with layers of maraschino cherry, walnut liqueur, and dark chocolate mint. The Aged 18 Years – matured exclusively in Oloroso sherry casks – delivers the most concentrated expression within the core range, marked by stewed fruits, tobacco, toasted walnut bread, and a prolonged velvet finish. All three expressions are bottled with only natural cask-imparted color. 

Each expression is crafted under the direction of Rachel Barrie, whose work is as much interpretive as it is technical, bringing coherence to complexity while preserving the distinct identity of each whisky. Guided by a relentless pursuit of excellence, her approach reflects The Glendronach’s philosophy of patiently revealing flavor through time, craft and sherry cask maturation – quietly raising expectations of what a richly sherried Highland single malt can be.

Commenting on the launch, Rachel Barrie, master blender, who was in India to introduce The Glendronach to consumers, collectors and members of the media, said,  “The Glendronach is a surprise, a revelation. It begins with an aroma that is inviting, enticing and mellow, before opening into an amplification and crescendo of flavor across the palate – becoming far richer than you first expect. The whisky builds beautifully with every sip, and what is particularly exciting about India is the growing appreciation for that kind of depth, detail, and complexity within single malt whisky.”

Gaurav Sabharwal, managing director, India & South Asia, Brown-Forman, added, “The launch of The Glendronach marks another important step in Brown-Forman’s premiumisation journey in India and further strengthens our presence within the luxury and super-premium whisky segment. Indian consumers today are demonstrating a far deeper appreciation for provenance, craftsmanship, and distinctive flavor profiles, and The Glendronach’s richly sherried Highland character makes it a compelling addition to our portfolio at a particularly opportune moment for the category.”

Vinay Joshi, director – Marketing, Indian Sub-Continent & Maldives, Brown-Forman, added, “The Glendronach represents a significant milestone for us as we enter the Single Malt Scotch category in India with a brand that possesses both exceptional heritage and a truly distinctive whisky style. The objective is not simply to participate in the category’s growth, but to bring a more differentiated and flavour-led proposition to India’s increasingly knowledgeable community of single malt scotch collectors and connoisseurs. As consumer palates evolve, we are seeing far greater appreciation for provenance, cask influence and layered flavor complexity – qualities that sit at the very heart of The Glendronach.”

Across Mumbai and New Delhi, The Glendronach marked its India debut through a set of thoughtfully curated launch experiences that reflected the richness and complexity of the whiskies themselves. Combining immersive tastings with narrative-led storytelling around cask maturation, provenance and flavor, the events offered guests a deeper understanding of The Glendronach’s distinctive sherried Highland style while capturing the elevated, contemporary spirit of luxury whisky culture in India.

The Glendronach is already available across key markets including Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, and Chandigarh, with further expansion planned across additional states through 2026.