Glenburgie 30 Years Old 1995 Cask #2 (Signatory)

A Glenburgie of a 30 year old chosen by Signatory Vintage, distilled in 1995, from cask 2, at 53.2%, one of 624 bottles. Glenburgie is a light, fruity Speyside malt of orchard fruit, grass and a soft waxy thread. Most of its make goes quietly to blends; single malt Glenburgie is rare, and largely from independents. It has belonged to Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard, since 2005.

It was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, for a soft, fruity spirit with a waxy thread. Maturation came in an Oloroso cask, layered over the fresh Glenburgie make. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending honey and dried fig as beeswax and a waxy note linger. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses. Years in oak deepen the spirit to old gold, the body growing rounder and waxier with time. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At 53.2%, undiluted, it is rich and waxy. Green apple, citrus and a waxy note, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The body is light and clean, the fruit lifted by a soft oak. The finish is light, fruity and clean. This is the fragrant blending malt of Alves.