Glenburgie 10 Years Old 2008 Cask #AM 116 (Asta Morris)

A 10 year old Glenburgie from Asta Morris, distilled in 2008, from cask AM 116, at 52%, one of 237 bottles. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt, owned by Chivas Brothers and one of the larger Speyside distilleries. It was rebuilt in 1881 by Charles Chree Doig, the architect behind so many Speyside stillhouses. It was expanded to six stills after the rebuild, one of the bigger distilleries in the group. Its make has long fed big blends like Old Smuggler down the decades. It was founded in 1810 as Kilnflat by William Paul, taking the Glenburgie name in 1878.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a light body with a gentle, waxy edge. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin and a soft coconut under the malt. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the apple softening towards a waxy honey. Long ageing turns the fresh apple towards beeswax, tropical fruit and a gentle spice.

At its natural 52% it is full and fruity. Green apple, citrus and a waxy note, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Pear, grass and a creamy oak fill the middle. A fresh finish closes on apple and a soft oak. This is the fragrant blending malt of Alves.