Glenburgie 36 Years Old 1969 Cask #6752 (Duncan Taylor)

This Glenburgie comes from Duncan Taylor, the cask house from Huntly in Aberdeenshire, a 36 year old, distilled in 1969, from cask 6752, at 44.2%, one of 178 bottles. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt, owned by Chivas Brothers and one of the larger Speyside distilleries. It has been a core malt of the Ballantine's blend since Hiram Walker bought it in 1936. Most of its make goes quietly to blends; single malt Glenburgie is rare, and largely from independents. Its water is drawn from a local spring near the distillery.

It was drawn from a long fermentation, giving a fragrant, orchard led Speyside spirit. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin and a soft coconut under the malt. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending honey and dried fig as beeswax and a waxy note linger. A soft waxiness from the spirit carries a thread through the maturation.

At a hearty 44.2% it carries real weight. A soft, orchard led sweetness with a floral lift, over a gentle, creamy oak. Soft apple and a waxy honey sit behind the cask. Green apple, honey and a soft oak see it out. This is a fresh, fruity Speyside single malt.