Glenburgie 22 Years Old 1966 (Sestante)

A 22 year old Glenburgie from Sestante, distilled in 1966, at 58%. Glenburgie is a fragrant Speyside malt, a core flavour of Ballantine's for decades. The old distillery was demolished and rebuilt in 2004, only the little stone office left standing. It was rebuilt in 1881 by Charles Chree Doig, the architect behind so many Speyside stillhouses. Most of its make goes quietly to blends; single malt Glenburgie is rare, and largely from independents.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a light body with a gentle, waxy edge. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending a creamy vanilla. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend structure while oxidation builds a richer tropical fruit over a candle wax depth. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses. The spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out a soft beeswax.

At a hearty 58% it carries real weight. A soft, orchard led sweetness with a floral lift, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run baked apple, a light citrus and a soft honey. A long, fruity finish carries a waxy honey. This is a fragrant Speyside single malt of real lightness.