Glenburgie 44 Years Old 1963 (G&M)

This Glenburgie was bottled by Gordon and MacPhail, a 44 year old, distilled in 1963, at 43%. Glenburgie is a clean, fruity Speyside malt, light and fresh in the glass. It has belonged to Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard, since 2005. Most of its make goes quietly to blends; single malt Glenburgie is rare, and largely from independents. Its make has long fed big blends like Old Smuggler down the decades. Its water is drawn from a local spring near the distillery.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, giving a fragrant, orchard led Speyside spirit. It was finished in an Oloroso cask, the wood building on the light, fruity spirit. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending honey and dried fig as beeswax and a waxy note linger. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. First fill wood drives the maturation, the cask clear in the spirit.

At 43% it is bright, waxy and soft. Pear, floral notes and a soft, waxy sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A green apple and a gentle citrus lift the middle. The finish is rounded, fruity and clean. This is the fragrant blending malt of Alves.