Glenburgie 37 Years Old 1984 Cask #8511

This Glenburgie comes from Gordon and MacPhail, the Elgin grocer laying down casks on South Street since 1895, a 37 year old, distilled in 1984, from cask 8511, at 55.9%, one of 81 bottles. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt made near Alves in Moray, east of Forres. Its water is drawn from a local spring near the distillery. It has belonged to Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard, since 2005. It was rebuilt in 1881 by Charles Chree Doig, the architect behind so many Speyside stillhouses.

The spirit was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, shaping a fine, clean malt with a floral lift. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak gentle behind the spirit. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending honey and dried fig as beeswax and a waxy note linger. Long ageing turns the fresh apple towards beeswax, tropical fruit and a gentle spice.

At a natural 55.9% it is full and waxy. Apple, pear and fresh cut grass, over a gentle, creamy oak. The mouthfeel is light, a faint waxiness carrying the fruit. The finish is rounded, fruity and clean. This is Glenburgie's bright, orchard led Speyside character.