Glenburgie 13 Years Old 2002 Cask #91331 (Ian Macleod)

A 13 year old Glenburgie from Ian Macleod, distilled in 2002, from cask 91331, at 56.8%, one of 603 bottles. Glenburgie is a light, fruity Speyside malt of orchard fruit, grass and a soft waxy thread. It was expanded to six stills after the rebuild, one of the bigger distilleries in the group. Most of its make goes quietly to blends; single malt Glenburgie is rare, and largely from independents. Its make has long fed big blends like Old Smuggler down the decades.

It was distilled from unpeated malt, building a light malt of orchard fruit and fresh grass. It was matured in a Manzanilla cask, the wood working into the fruity malt. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the fruity spirit growing rounder and a touch waxy. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the Speyside spirit. The spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out a soft beeswax.

Bottled at a cask strength 56.8%, it is concentrated. Pear, floral notes and a soft, waxy sweetness, with a dry, saline, almond note from the cask. The mouthfeel is light, a faint waxiness carrying the fruit. A long, fruity finish carries a waxy honey. This is a fresh, fruity Speyside single malt.