Glenburgie 30 Years Old 1984 Cask #8510 (G&M)

A Glenburgie of a 30 year old chosen by Gordon and MacPhail, distilled in 1984, from cask 8510, at 54.5%, one of 70 bottles. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt made near Alves in Moray, east of Forres. 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. Its water is drawn from a local spring near the distillery. Its make has long fed big blends like Old Smuggler down the decades.

It was drawn from a long fermentation, for a light body with a gentle, waxy edge. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak lending vanilla and a light honey. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending honey and dried fig as beeswax and a waxy note linger. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the Speyside spirit.

At its natural 54.5% it is full and fruity. Baked apple, grass and a light honey, over a gentle, creamy oak. Beneath it run baked apple, a light citrus and a soft honey. A fresh finish closes on apple and a soft oak. This is a fresh, fruity Speyside single malt.