Glenburgie 21 Years Old (Bourbon Cask)

This Glenburgie comes from Gordon and MacPhail, the Elgin grocer laying down casks on South Street since 1895, a 21 year old, at 46%. Glenburgie is a fragrant Speyside malt, a core flavour of Ballantine's for decades. It was founded in 1810 as Kilnflat by William Paul, taking the Glenburgie name in 1878. It has belonged to Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard, since 2005. It sits near Alves in Moray, east of Forres, in the heart of Speyside.

It was drawn from a long fermentation, for a light body with a gentle, waxy edge. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak lending vanilla and a light honey. At oxidative maturity aldehydes lend a nutty edge while ellagitannins draw a gentle, drying grip across the fruit. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the Speyside spirit. Long ageing turns the fresh apple towards beeswax, tropical fruit and a gentle spice.

Bottled at 46%, it is light and rounded. Pear, honey and a creamy oak, over a gentle, creamy oak. Soft apple and a waxy honey sit behind the cask. The finish is rounded, fruity and clean. This is a fragrant Speyside single malt of real lightness.