Glenburgie 12 Years Old 2007 Cask #DL 13706

A 12 year old Glenburgie from Douglas Laing, distilled in 2007, from cask DL 13706, at 48.4%, one of 365 bottles. Glenburgie is a fragrant Speyside malt, a core flavour of Ballantine's for decades. It was rebuilt in 1881 by Charles Chree Doig, the architect behind so many Speyside stillhouses. Its water is drawn from a local spring near the distillery. 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.

It was drawn from a long fermentation, shaping a fine, clean malt with a floral lift. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending a creamy vanilla. 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. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses.

At a natural 48.4% it is full and waxy. Pear, floral notes and a soft, waxy sweetness, over a gentle, creamy oak. Pear, grass and a creamy oak fill the middle. It finishes light, fresh and faintly waxy. This is Glenburgie's bright, orchard led Speyside character.