Glenburgie 17 Years Old 1991 Cask #10849 (G&M)

Gordon and MacPhail bottled this Glenburgie, a 17 year old, distilled in 1991, from cask 10849, at 58.2%, one of 225 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 has been a core malt of the Ballantine's blend since Hiram Walker bought it in 1936. It sits near Alves in Moray, east of Forres, in the heart of Speyside.

It was distilled in tall onion shaped pot stills, for a soft, fruity spirit with a waxy thread. It was finished in an Oloroso cask, the wood building on the light, fruity spirit. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters of apple and a light tropical note over a waxy depth. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the Speyside spirit. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses.

Bottled at a cask strength 58.2%, it is concentrated. Pear, honey and a creamy oak, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is soft and gently waxy, the light spirit shining through. It finishes light, fresh and faintly waxy. This is a fragrant Speyside single malt of real lightness.