Glenburgie 18 Years Old Single Malts of Scotland (Cask 751401)

A little background

Glenburgie is a little known Speyside distillery that will tickle your fancy. If you are a curious cat when it comes to whisky, you know, asking questions, trying different distilleries that you have never heard of then this will be exciting for you. It’s rare to find Glenburgie in a single malt expression as these spirits are typically the main component of Ballantines blended whisky. This review of Glenburgie 18 Year old Single Malts of Scotland is of cask 751401, which was distilled October 1998, yielded 166 bottles and carries an ABV of 59.8%.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Light Amber

Nose

Reminds me of a Mizunara cask, incense perfume and floral in nature. Jasmine, Ylang -Ylang, lemon peel, lime, citrusy and zesty. Caramel and herbal nose at the end. Earthiness and honey like nose, honey in a hot toddy – you know, Grandpa’s cough medicine. Faint hints of baby Talc hint too.

With Water: the nose changes a bit with more of a brown sugar that’s been caramelized. The citrus and crisp zestiness is still there, along with perfume notes.

Palate

The ABV of this will definitely singe the hair off your face! But in a good way. Passionfruit, lemon peel, lime rind, Pineapple. Toffee and honey. Slight spice – finding it hard to describe the spice but it is more heat like candied ginger. Resin of pine needles and not so much earthiness on the palate. Vanilla, coconut essence. 

With Water: Eases the heat, flavor is more palatable and more approachable. The flavors are really the same but they are tapered back and able to be accepted by the mind a bit more – instead of a mind boggling flavor sensation. Slight smokiness and earthiness with water.

Finish

Although it’s good to try this with and without water, I’d recommend always adding water with this one. The finish is big, chewy and complex.

In closing

Glenburgie 18 is a hell of an experience! Find it, try it, buy it, drink it! It’s a great example of once again wasted single malts that are being put into blends to meet the market demand for cheaper whisky. It’d be a shame to imagine this single malt single barrel being dumped into a blend. It rocks the party and brings all the boys to the yard!