Glenburgie 12 Years Old 2010 Cask #162 (Sansibar)

This Glenburgie was bottled by Sansibar, a 12 year old, distilled in 2010, from cask 162, at 58.2%, one of 264 bottles. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt made near Alves in Moray, east of Forres. Its make has long fed big blends like Old Smuggler down the decades. It has belonged to Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard, since 2005.

Run slowly off the spirit still, building a light malt of orchard fruit and fresh grass. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak lending vanilla and a light honey. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the apple softening towards a waxy honey. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses. The spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out a soft beeswax. Built for the blender's art, the make ages with quiet grace as a single malt. A soft waxiness from the spirit carries a thread through the maturation.

At a hearty 58.2% it carries real weight. Pear, floral notes and a soft, waxy sweetness, with a gentle oak sweetness. The body is light and clean, the fruit lifted by a soft oak. It finishes light, fresh and faintly waxy. This is a light, waxy Speyside single malt.