Glenburgie 20 Years Old 1997 Cask #8537

Gordon and MacPhail, the Elgin grocer laying down casks on South Street since 1895, bottled this Glenburgie, distilled in 1997, from cask 8537, at 59.9%, one of 596 bottles. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt, a blending malt rarely seen on its own and largely the work of independents. It has been a core malt of the Ballantine's blend since Hiram Walker bought it in 1936.

It was drawn from a long fermentation, giving a fragrant, orchard led Speyside spirit. 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. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the Speyside spirit. Years in oak deepen the spirit to old gold, the body growing rounder and waxier with time.

At a natural 59.9% it is full and waxy. Baked apple, grass and a light honey, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Pear, grass and a creamy oak fill the middle. The finish is light, fruity and clean. This is a fragrant Speyside single malt of real lightness.