Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Distillery: Glenburgie.
Bottler: Douglas Laing.
Region: Scotland/Speyside Single Malt.
ABV: 50%.
Age: 12 Years. Distilled in Oct. 1987. Bottled in June 2000.
Cask type: Refill Hogshead.
Nose: Bright citrus with licorice and first aide antiseptic wipes; orange cream sodas appeared with a kiss of peppery oak and dried aromatic florals.
Palate: Medium-bodied and syrupy, floral, creamy, and sugary; lavender and violets with freshly scorched crème brûlée, butterscotch, and canned fruit punch with subtle hints of antiseptic wipes; tannic at times with wood char and savory charred fat or sugars.
Finish: Long and lingering with toasted sugars, citrusy cream, and a hint of dried florals.
Mental Image: Avant-Garde Dessert with a side of First Aide.
Conclusion: I enjoyed a blast from the past with this cask sample from Douglas Laing— back before the split with Hunter Laing who now bottle the Old Malt Cask label. This unusual Glenburgie was loaded with a confusing mix of sweet and antiseptic flavors that ranged from fruity to floral and even savory at the end.
I have never had such an odd combination from the distillery, especially those medicated wipes and first aid kit notes. It was a bit discordant at times, and the flavors, while delightfully strange at times, were not particularly well-structured or balanced. Yet, I love a weird malt and this was particularly unconventional.
Overall, I love the eccentricities that one can find with Glenburgie, though I suspect some might find some of those tannic charred wood notes to be a touch bitter or the floral elements too similar to Bowmore’s FWP era. I loved the creamy weirdness.
Final Score: 85.
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 