Glenburgie 40 Years Old 1983 Cask #MoS 23020 (Malts of Scotland)

A 40 year old Glenburgie from Malts of Scotland, distilled in 1983, from cask MoS 23020, at 48%, one of 115 bottles. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt, a blending malt rarely seen on its own and largely the work of independents. Its make has long fed big blends like Old Smuggler down the decades. It has belonged to Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard, since 2005. Its water is drawn from a local spring near the distillery.

Drawn from a long fermentation, for a light body with a gentle, waxy edge. It was finished in an Oloroso cask, the wood building on the light, fruity spirit. Ethereal and fragile, the decades draw it to a honeyed, waxy delicacy of tropical fruit and old oak. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the Speyside spirit. Built for the blender's art, the make ages with quiet grace as a single malt. Years in oak deepen the spirit to old gold, the body growing rounder and waxier with time.

At a hearty 48% it carries real weight. Green apple, citrus and a waxy note, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The mouthfeel is light, a faint waxiness carrying the fruit. The finish is rounded, fruity and clean. This is a fruity Speyside malt rarely seen on its own.