Glenburgie 23 Years Old 1997 (Sansibar)

A Glenburgie of a 23 year old chosen by Sansibar, distilled in 1997, at 57.3%, one of 347 bottles. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt made near Alves in Moray, east of Forres. It has belonged to Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard, since 2005.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, giving a fragrant, orchard led Speyside spirit. It was finished in an Oloroso cask, the wood building on the light, fruity spirit. In the oxidative, evaporative years the spirit concentrates to tropical fruit, honey and a waxy, candle wax depth. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Years in oak deepen the spirit to old gold, the body growing rounder and waxier with time. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses. A soft waxiness from the spirit carries a thread through the maturation.

At a natural 57.3% it is full and waxy. A delicate, soft malt with a waxy edge, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is soft and gently waxy, the light spirit shining through. It finishes light, fresh and faintly waxy. This is a light, fruity Speyside single malt.