Glenburgie 25 Years Old 1994 Cask #10064

This Glenburgie comes from Gordon and MacPhail, the Elgin grocer laying down casks on South Street since 1895, a 25 year old, distilled in 1994, from cask 10064, at 55.5%, one of 176 bottles. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt from near Alves, founded in 1810 as Kilnflat. It has been a core malt of the Ballantine's blend since Hiram Walker bought it in 1936. The old distillery was demolished and rebuilt in 2004, only the little stone office left standing. It has belonged to Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard, since 2005.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, for a light body with a gentle, waxy edge. It was matured in an Oloroso cask, the wood working into the fruity malt. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into mango, beeswax and a waxy honey. The spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out a soft beeswax.

Bottled at a cask strength 55.5%, it is concentrated. Apple, pear and fresh cut grass, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A green apple and a gentle citrus lift the middle. It finishes light, fresh and faintly waxy. This is a light, waxy Speyside single malt.