There are records of a distillery being built in Alves in the shire of Moray as far as back as 1810, but the distillery (also known as Glenburgie-Glenlivet) did not get its current name until 1870 under Charles Kay. Throughout its life the distillery had been mothballed (ceased operations) several times: 1870 to 1878, 1927 to 1935, 2000 - 2004; and also went through several owners, the most recent of which is Pernod Ricard. As the bulk of the distillery's output is used in blends like Ballantines and Old Smuggler, cask strength bottlings represent a unique opportunity to taste the multi-faceted flavor profile of Glenburgie in its full, unadulterated glory.
Here is a beautiful, single-cask Glenburgie aged in a first-fill bourbon hogshead, then finished in a first-fill sherry hogshead, for a total of over 11 years maturation. A total of 279 bottles produced. This is the third exclusive bottling in collaboration with Porcine Partners and Spirit & Penance and the last one in the style of Japanese ukiyo-e themed labels.
Tasting notes:
Color: light gold, a gentle touch from the sherry cask
Nose: Wow, very complex. Floral components, stewed / honeyed fruits (no citrus here), some grappa. If we can describe this sensory experience in a scene, it would be like your beloved cuddling up to you, then serving you up a slice of raisin and fruit cake in the middle of a meadow in full bloom.
Palate: An intense but well balanced drink, you can’t tell that this is a massive 59.4% ABV. What you CAN still tell is that the bourbon cask influence predominates, but the sherry finish has added an interesting layer of flavours. If you cannot stand sherry bombs but don’t mind a tinge of sweet caramel in your bourbon-aged scotch, then this is just right for you!
Finish: Medium long and clean.
Size: 70 cl
ABV: 59.4%
Fill level: Good
With box?: Yes