Glenburgie 1964 (G&M)

A Glenburgie chosen by Gordon and MacPhail, distilled in 1964, at 40%. Glenburgie is a light, fruity Speyside malt of orchard fruit, grass and a soft waxy thread. It has been a core malt of the Ballantine's blend since Hiram Walker bought it in 1936. It was founded in 1810 as Kilnflat by William Paul, taking the Glenburgie name in 1878. Its water is drawn from a local spring near the distillery. It was rebuilt in 1881 by Charles Chree Doig, the architect behind so many Speyside stillhouses.

Distilled in tall onion shaped pot stills, shaping a fine, clean malt with a floral lift. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak gentle behind the spirit. With no age statement, vanillin reads as vanilla and oak lactones as coconut over the light, fruity spirit. Years in oak deepen the spirit to old gold, the body growing rounder and waxier with time. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the Speyside spirit.

At an approachable 40% it is fresh and clean. A delicate, soft malt with a waxy edge, with a gentle oak sweetness. Beneath it run baked apple, a light citrus and a soft honey. It finishes light, fresh and faintly waxy. This is a fruity Speyside malt rarely seen on its own.