Glenburgie 10 Years Old (Premier Barrel)

A Glenburgie of a 10 year old chosen by Douglas Laing, at 46%, one of 398 bottles. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt from near Alves, founded in 1810 as Kilnflat. It has belonged to Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard, since 2005. It was expanded to six stills after the rebuild, one of the bigger distilleries in the group.

It was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, shaping a fine, clean malt with a floral lift. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak gentle behind the spirit. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the fruity spirit growing rounder and a touch waxy. First fill wood drives the maturation, the cask clear in the spirit. A soft waxiness from the spirit carries a thread through the maturation. Built for the blender's art, the make ages with quiet grace as a single malt. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the Speyside spirit.

At an approachable 46% it is fresh and clean. A delicate, soft malt with a waxy edge, lifted by a soft oak. Soft apple and a waxy honey sit behind the cask. The close is light and clean, fruit over a gentle oak. This is a Speyside single malt of real lightness.