Glenburgie 26 Years Old 1989 Cask #16311 (Silver Seal)

A 26 year old Glenburgie from Silver Seal, distilled in 1989, from cask 16311, at 52.8%, one of 125 bottles. Glenburgie is a clean, fruity Speyside malt, light and fresh in the glass. It was rebuilt in 1881 by Charles Chree Doig, the architect behind so many Speyside stillhouses.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for the light, fruity make the Ballantine's blenders prized. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the fruit. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into mango, beeswax and a waxy honey. Years in oak deepen the spirit to old gold, the body growing rounder and waxier with time. Long ageing turns the fresh apple towards beeswax, tropical fruit and a gentle spice. The spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out a soft beeswax. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses.

At its natural 52.8% it is full and fruity. A delicate, soft malt with a waxy edge, with a gentle oak sweetness. It is soft and gently waxy, the light spirit shining through. It finishes light, fresh and faintly waxy. This is a Speyside single malt of real lightness.