Glenburgie 13 Years Old

Chosen by Cadenhead, Scotland's oldest independent bottler, Aberdeen born in 1842 and now in Campbeltown, this a 13 year old Glenburgie, distilled in 2010, at 46%. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt, a blending malt rarely seen on its own and largely the work of independents. Its make has long fed big blends like Old Smuggler down the decades. Its water is drawn from a local spring near the distillery.

The spirit was distilled in tall onion shaped pot stills, for the light, fruity make the Ballantine's blenders prized. A Port cask held it, drawing the light spirit on over the years. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend a riper apple, pear and a soft honey. A soft waxiness from the spirit carries a thread through the maturation. The spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out a soft beeswax.

At an approachable 46% it is fresh and clean. A delicate, soft malt with a waxy edge, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. It is soft and gently waxy, the light spirit shining through. The close is light and clean, fruit over a gentle oak. This is a fresh, fruity Speyside single malt.