Glenburgie 12 Years Old 2008 (House of McCallum)

A Glenburgie of a 12 year old chosen by House of McCallum, distilled in 2008, at 46.2%, one of 700 bottles. Glenburgie is a clean, fruity Speyside malt, light and fresh in the glass. It sits near Alves in Moray, east of Forres, in the heart of Speyside. Its make has long fed big blends like Old Smuggler down the decades. It was rebuilt in 1881 by Charles Chree Doig, the architect behind so many Speyside stillhouses.

Drawn from a long fermentation, for a light body with a gentle, waxy edge. Maturation came in a Burgundy cask, layered over the fresh Glenburgie make. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend a riper apple, pear and a soft honey. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the Speyside spirit. First fill wood drives the maturation, the cask clear in the spirit. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At 46.2% it is smooth and fruity. Green apple, citrus and a waxy note, with a red berry and an earthy edge from the cask. A green apple and a gentle citrus lift the middle. The finish is rounded, fruity and clean. This is a Speyside single malt of real lightness.