Glenburgie 20yo Douglas of Drumlanrig

Glenburgie 20 year Old (Oct 1992 – Oct 2012)

Glenburgie as a distillery do not release their own single malt whisky. In fact majority of their whisky goes into making Ballantines blended whisky. This Speyside distillery founded in 1810 produces a total of 5 million litters of alcohol a year. One of the characteristics of Glenburgie is wider stills for distillation which results in lighter spirit more suited for blended whisky. Saying that, some special selected casks are sold to Independent bottlers such as Douglas of Drumlanrig. Today we have the Glenburgie 20yo distilled in October 1992, stored in a hogshead and bottled in October 2012 by Douglas of Drumlanrig. There are a total of 149 bottles with an ABV of 46%.

Something is to be said when observing the liquid through the glass. It’s quite cloudy even for British summer climate (no pun intended) due to the unchillfiltered process. Matured in an American refilled hogshead previously bourbon cask, the aroma has a lot vanilla, cereal, honey with slight fermentation in the air. The palate is very subtle, with tangy zesty fruitiness. The finish is long but subtle as well leaving behind a herbal minty like feeling in the throat. I expected a lighter spirit even for a 20yo malt, however the whisky gets more interesting when taking a second sip, the taste climbs ups a notch, palate becomes richer and the finish lingers longer. The bottle would cost you about £105.

whiskytale: Remember the time you were in school and during class, your history teacher introduces this slightly big but rather shy kid who just enrolled at your school. You’re inquisitive about the new guy. He’s Glenburgie and shy even for a 20yo whisky. Even at your effort to make friends, he makes small hesitant gestures to know you. Take a chance and spend a little more time, he’ll grow on you and down the line a friend you can rely on, and there aren’t many of the like out there.

Categories: Chronicles