Glenburgie 31 Years Old 1981 (Cadenhead’s)

A Glenburgie of a 31 year old chosen by Cadenhead, distilled in 1981, at 50.8%, one of 186 bottles. Glenburgie is a fragrant Speyside malt, a core flavour of Ballantine's for decades. It was rebuilt in 1881 by Charles Chree Doig, the architect behind so many Speyside stillhouses. The old distillery was demolished and rebuilt in 2004, only the little stone office left standing. It was founded in 1810 as Kilnflat by William Paul, taking the Glenburgie name in 1878.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, giving a fragrant, orchard led Speyside spirit. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending a creamy vanilla. In its ethereal years the malt turns waxy and oxidative, faded esters and a whisper of sotolon. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses. First fill wood drives the maturation, the cask clear in the spirit.

Bottled at a cask strength 50.8%, it is concentrated. Apple, pear and fresh cut grass, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is soft and gently waxy, the light spirit shining through. A fresh finish closes on apple and a soft oak. This is a fresh, fruity Speyside single malt.