Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Distillery: Glenburgie.
Bottler: SMWS.
Region: Scotland/Speyside Single Malt.
ABV: 61.8%. Cask Strength.
Age: 7 years. Distilled on 1 Nov. 2011.
Cask type: First Fill Bourbon Barrel.
Nose: Tropical and fruity with guava candies, sandalwood, orange oil, pineapple, li hing mui, sweetened condensed milk, hints of melon, wax, and cocoa.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, oily with a slow waxy build-up, a kiss of salt introduced kiwi, melon, pineapple, and sweetened condensed milk; guava candies and cured bamboo arrived next with orange chiffon cake, a touch of earth, and an occasional copper twang.
Finish: Medium to long with melon, salt, and a touch of earth.
Mental Image: Shave Ice from the Manapua Man.
Conclusion: I purchased this as my second ever Glenburgie after I adored SMWS 71.66, a similar, but not sibling, 7-Year 2011 vintage. After just a few months with it, I was worried that the bottle would get low pretty fast unless I found something similar as a backup. I also loved the whisky’s name; in my mind, it is just suggestive enough without being over the top. It is also weirdly appropriate as the oily quality of the malt and notions of fruit, salt, and coconut put me in the mind of body oils or lotions.
My wife declared this was, much like 71.66, an appropriate bath-time whisky due to its oily texture and rich tropical fruity flavors. This cask was a touch sweeter than the other. At the same time, some of the earthier elements, which occasionally gave 71.66 a farmy quality, were far more subdued. I still enjoyed this whisky, even if it lacked all of the same complexity and depth.
Overall, I love these young Glenburgie and am always on the lookout for more these days.
Final Score: 84.
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.
Malt Runners 