Glenburgie 9 Years Old 2012 (Monnier Trading)

Monnier Trading bottled this Glenburgie, a 9 year old, distilled in 2012, at 58.5%, one of 119 bottles. Glenburgie is a Speyside single malt from near Alves, founded in 1810 as Kilnflat. It has been a core malt of the Ballantine's blend since Hiram Walker bought it in 1936. Its make has long fed big blends like Old Smuggler down the decades. It was expanded to six stills after the rebuild, one of the bigger distilleries in the group.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, giving a fragrant, orchard led Speyside spirit. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the fruit. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin and toasted sugars over the clean, fruity spirit. The spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out a soft beeswax. Built for the blender's art, the make ages with quiet grace as a single malt. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool Speyside warehouses.

Bottled at a cask strength 58.5%, it is concentrated. Pear, honey and a creamy oak, with a gentle oak sweetness. Pear, grass and a creamy oak fill the middle. It finishes light, fresh and faintly waxy. This is a Speyside single malt of real lightness.