Glenburgie 14 Years Old 2003 Cask #96631 (Ian Macleod)

A Glenburgie of a 14 year old chosen by Ian Macleod, distilled in 2003, from cask 96631, at 46%, one of 398 bottles. Glenburgie is a fragrant Speyside malt, a core flavour of Ballantine's for decades. It has belonged to Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard, since 2005. Most of its make goes quietly to blends; single malt Glenburgie is rare, and largely from independents. The old distillery was demolished and rebuilt in 2004, only the little stone office left standing. Its water is drawn from a local spring near the distillery.

It was drawn from a long fermentation, for a soft, fruity spirit with a waxy thread. It was matured in an Oloroso cask, the wood working into the fruity malt. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend a riper apple, pear and a soft honey. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses.

At 46% it is smooth and fruity. Green apple, citrus and a waxy note, 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 Speyside single malt of real lightness.