Glenburgie 11 Years Old 2011 (Catawiki)

Catawiki bottled this Glenburgie, an 11 year old, distilled in 2011, at 52.3%, one of 86 bottles. Glenburgie is a clean, fruity Speyside malt, light and fresh in the glass. It was expanded to six stills after the rebuild, one of the bigger distilleries in the group. The old distillery was demolished and rebuilt in 2004, only the little stone office left standing.

Drawn from a long fermentation, for the light, fruity make the Ballantine's blenders prized. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a soft honey over the orchard fruit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend a riper apple, pear and a soft honey. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. A soft waxiness from the spirit carries a thread through the maturation. Years in oak deepen the spirit to old gold, the body growing rounder and waxier with time. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses.

At a natural 52.3% it is full and waxy. Apple, pear and a soft honey, with a gentle oak sweetness. A light orchard fruit and a soft spice give it shape. The finish runs delicate, fruity and waxy. This is a light, waxy Speyside single malt.