Glenburgie 5 Years Old Italy Exclusive

A distillery release of Glenburgie, a 5 year old, at 43%. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt, long the fruity heart of the Ballantine's blend. It was expanded to six stills after the rebuild, one of the bigger distilleries in the group. Most of its make goes quietly to blends; single malt Glenburgie is rare, and largely from independents. It was founded in 1810 as Kilnflat by William Paul, taking the Glenburgie name in 1878.

The spirit was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a light body with a gentle, waxy edge. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the fresh, fruity character to the fore. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and lactones as coconut over apple, pear and fresh grass. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses. First fill wood drives the maturation, the cask clear in the spirit.

At 43% it is bright, waxy and soft. Green apple, citrus and a waxy note, with a gentle oak sweetness. The mouthfeel is light, a faint waxiness carrying the fruit. Green apple, honey and a soft oak see it out. This is the fragrant blending malt of Alves.