Glenburgie 10 Year (2007) SMWS 71.45 “Frisky as a kitten”

Review by: The Muskox

In my quest to hit 1000 scotch reviews before my friend u/b1uepenguin, I poured one extra dram on Christmas. I’ve already reviewed 71.43 and loved it, but that was matured in a refill sherry cask. This one might be a bit more austere, and, uh, frisky.

Distillery: Glenburgie.

Bottler: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Region: Speyside.

ABV: 60.3%, cask strength.

Age: 10 years old. Distilled on 02/22/2007. Bottled in 2017.

Cask type: Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel.

Color: Light gold. No colour added, chill-filtered.

Nose: Very ex-bourbon-y. Spiced vanilla and crunchy malt right up front. Nature Valley bars, praline ice cream, grated nutmeg, and chocolate stroopwaffel. Subtler fruit notes than I’m used to from ‘Burgie: some crisp yellow apples and mango. u/b1uepenguin mentioned a chalky note here, which I get.

With a small dribble of water, things are slightly more balanced between malt and fruit.

Palate: Medium texture, with prickly ethanol throughout. Arrives with cool green fruits – white grapes, Granny Smiths, cucumber juice, and some elderflower. Malty and creamy on the development: buttercream-frosted vanilla cupcakes, sugared cereals, white chocolate chips, and honey-drizzled granola.

The water takes down some of the heat, but not much of the spiritiness. That chalky note appears, too.

Finish: Medium-short and very spirity. Apple skins galore. Some oat bars and coconut. That chalky flavour is here again, maybe as more of a broad mineral note. Slightly slaty.

Water adds interesting candied citrus zest notes as well as some pineapple.

Absurd SMWS bottling name: “Pummeled by a magical granola-bar-crumb Golem”

Notes: Not my preferred Glenburgie experience. It’s rather spirity, and missing some of the sumptuous fruitiness I’m looking for. That malt/granola note in here is uniquely pungent, and it has those mineral flavours, which are kind of fun. Still, a good-but-far-from-great whisky.

Final Score: 77.

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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