Glenburgie 18 Years Old 2007 Cask #109 + 110 (The Caskhound)

The Caskhound bottled this Glenburgie, an 18 year old, distilled in 2007, from cask 109 + 110, at 50%, one of 372 bottles. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt, a blending malt rarely seen on its own and largely the work of independents. It was rebuilt in 1881 by Charles Chree Doig, the architect behind so many Speyside stillhouses.

The spirit was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, shaping a fine, clean malt with a floral lift. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak lending vanilla and a light honey. At oxidative maturity aldehydes lend a nutty edge while ellagitannins draw a gentle, drying grip across the fruit. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses. First fill wood drives the maturation, the cask clear in the spirit. Built for the blender's art, the make ages with quiet grace as a single malt. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the Speyside spirit.

At its natural 50% it is full and fruity. A delicate, soft malt with a waxy edge, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft apple and a waxy honey sit behind the cask. The finish runs delicate, fruity and waxy. This is the fragrant blending malt of Alves.