Part 5 of Reviews from The Single Cask Singapore 

Review by: Whiskery Turnip

Singapore is one of my favorite places to visit, and I leapt at the chance to finally return again during my summer conference schedule. I resolved to do a bit more whisky tasting while I was in the country and use my extended stay to drop by new places and meet new people.

We returned to The Single Cask many times in Singapore; the first time was to check out the place (found in parts 1-4). However, the half dozen other trips, usually just for a dram, resulted from that great first experience. No doubt, the fact that we stayed half a block away for part of the visit and walked by Chijmes, the complex in which the bar sits, just about any time we left the hotel, also played a role.

The staff and owners were terrific; happy to talk whisky, explain the story behind different bottles, share some of their favorites, and offer suggestions for food, fun, or more whisky. I love how whisky brings people together and breaks the ice, especially for someone like me who, if you can believe it, happens to be somewhat introverted and a touch shy when not performing or speaking.

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Distillery: Glenburgie

Bottler: Thompson Brothers

Region: Scotland/Speyside Single Malt

ABV: 51.6%. Cask strength.

Age: 27 years. Distilled on 20 June 1995. Bottled in 2022.

Cask type: Refill Hogshead.

Price: $24/20ml at The Single Cask Singapore.

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Nose: Tropical and fruity, milk chocolate, subtle herbal jasmine and tea, citrus.

Palate: Medium-bodied, oily, slightly waxy, tropical fruits, pineapple, herbal tea, honey, earth and moss, touch of bitter tea tannins.

Finish: Long and lingering with vanilla, coconut, and cream.

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Mental Image: Lost on the Fruit Plantation

Conclusion: The aroma was tropical and pleasant, with green mango and hints of papaya on top of citrusy sweet, and slightly herbal shikuwasa. Herbal notes slowly developed with mint, jasmine, and sleepy-time chamomile tea. An underlying chocolatey richness sat mainly in the background while more time brought melon rind forward. Medium-bodied, oily, and a touch waxy, the flavor profile featured a bushel of tropical fruits, herbal teas, and underlying earthy notes. Mango, passionfruit, coconut, and melon arrived with grilled pineapple rings with honey-sweetened mint and chamomile teas following in hot pursuit. Buttery mushrooms came to mind as earth and cream collided, leaving rich forest floor humus and moss behind. A touch of slightly bitter tea tannins provided a lovely contrast at the end. The finish was long and lingering with vanilla, coconut, and cream.

Tropical and sweet with a waxy, oily profile— one could be mistaken for thinking this was a Clynelish, though to be sure, the wax was lighter than the heady paraffin of some similar vintage Clynelish. This Glenburgie featured a beautiful evolution as indistinct tropical fruits gradually took form as mango, pineapple, coconut, and eventually melon. Musty earth and herbs sat further in the background, with a touch of bitter tea contrasting the fruits and cream. The finish was wonderfully long, transitioning from vanilla, almost floral at times, to cream and tropical fruits.  

Overall, outstanding. The 1995 vintage for Glenburgie has rightly become well-regarded for these tropical profiles, and there has been an absolute bounty of casks from June 7-20 that year. I have not rated a single one of those casks below a 7, so my expectations are properly high for these malts, yet, twice in recent days, I have encountered examples of the vintage that set a new high bar.  

Even more important, the bottle art is superb. I wish I could have a poster of it for my office!

Final Score: 89.

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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.