Glenburgie 27 Years Old 1995 (North Star) (Bourbon Cask)

This Glenburgie was bottled by North Star Spirits, a 27 year old, distilled in 1995, at 51.7%, one of 210 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. Most of its make goes quietly to blends; single malt Glenburgie is rare, and largely from independents.

Distilled in tall onion shaped pot 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. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the Speyside spirit. First fill wood drives the maturation, the cask clear in the spirit.

At 51.7%, undiluted, it is rich and waxy. A delicate, soft malt with a waxy edge, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The body is light and clean, the fruit lifted by a soft oak. A fresh finish closes on apple and a soft oak. This is a fruity Speyside malt rarely seen on its own.