Glenburgie 27 Years Old 1985 71.38 A cheese-board in a library (57%, SMWS, Refill Bourbon HH, 210 Bottles, 2014)

• ABV: 57%
• Age: 27 Years Old
• Bottling: Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Cask 71.38
• Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
• Cost: £108
• Origin: Glenburgie distillery
• Vintage: 1985

What they say

Cask No. 71.38

Date Distilled: 28 May 1985 Colour: Barley sugar Age: 27 years Flavour : Spicy & sweet Cask Type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead Whisky Region: Speyside Lossie

Drinking tip: With cheese and grapes after informal supper

Official tasting notes:

A tired bowl of fruit (including bruised apples and ripe peaches), backed by polished wood panelling, leather books and faded roses, then a scent of mild cheeses (Caboc, unripe brie, white stilton) and Melba toast. The taste reflects some of these scents: sweet, then ‘cheese on a Cream Cracker’. With water the cheese note shifts to full-fat creamy (Laughing Cow), with melon, green banana, peach skin and a hint of Badedas chestnut bath oil. Soft and sweet to taste, then faintly fizzy/peppery (Flying Saucers, spicy), with a long warming finish and a hint of banana yoghurt in the aftertaste. This distillery supplies the heart malt for Ballantine’s, so is uncommon.

What I say

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Refractive full amber gold (10/20), large droplet tears and fine legs.
• Nose: Caramel, vanilla, old polished wood, antique shop, some dried orchard fruits, apple, pear, fusty.
• Taste: Beeswax, polished oak wood, barley, Murray mints, some subtle mixed orchard fruits again pear, apple, peach perhaps, vanilla cream, white wine vinegar
• Finish: Long, toffee, caramel, more fruity apple and pear.

Overall

Woody and closed but with plenty of aged woody sugars, fruit comes out eventually. Very nice waxiness in this pointing towards the distilleries blending potential perhaps?

Score 90/100

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