Glenburgie 2011 The Fishes of Samoa 12 yo

 

 

 

59,8°

Distillery : Glenburgie - Speyside

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Archives 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Fishes of Samoa collection launched by Archives, a Dutch bottler founded by the same people who launched Whiskybase, has a really good reputation. Personally, I have never been disappointed. Here we have a relatively young Glenburgie, aged in a first-fill bourbon barrel for 12 years, 7 months and 17 days. 223 bottles are available for sale, with a very attractive alcohol content. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Immediately, yellow fruits, thick honey, mellow touches, mirabelle and greengage plums, straws, earthy notes, pencil lead, mineral notes, limestone, chalk, lemon slices, peppermint, wood wax, ripe apricots, waste oil. On the palate, crème brûlée, egg custard, crisp green apples, liquorice sticks, beeswax, light woodiness, candied peaches, all sprinkled with cinnamon, pepper and cloves, mashed banana. Beautiful finish, powerful and long, punchy, bread dough, marzipan, ginger, blood oranges, slivered almonds, reeds. Vanilla and mint.  

 

In Short, 

A very good Glenburgie, a little fruit bomb, and as it is young, with some more original, vegetal, metallic and mineral notes. This makes for a Glenburgie full of character, but where the fruit is by no means neglected. My only slight reservation is that I would have liked to taste it with six or seven more years of ageing. But the advantage is that it is very inexpensive, and there are even a few bottles still available, so now is the time to grab a bargain. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           La Fonda - Kaleidoscope

Glenburgie 1998 High Spirits To Celebrate Mr Stefano Cremaschi 40th Birthday 21 yo

 

 

 

53,6°

Distillery : Glenburgie - Speyside

Bourbon Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By High Spirits' Collection

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

I was completely unfamiliar with High Spirits' Collection, an independent Italian bottler founded in Rimini by Nadi Fiori at the end of the last century. Nadi Fiori has been in the whisky business for over forty years now, and it's fair to say that his products are often rare and exceptional. Here we have a 21-year-old Glenburgie distilled in 1998, distributed to celebrate Stefano Cremaschi's birthday, and what a wonderful gift that is. The nature of the cask is not specified, but based on the profile of the whisky, I would guess that it is a Bourbon Cask. Only 80 bottles in total were released, 40 of 750 cl and 40 Magnums of 1500 cl. I had access to one of these magnums.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, beautiful springtime richness, dew at dawn in a damp and leafy landscape, fairly rich floral tones, wood wax, liquid honey, white plums, juicy pears, macerated almonds, yellow apples, slices of melon. On the palate, it is very oily, olive oil, lychee juice, rose Turkish delight, creamy vanilla, orange zest, quince jam, roasted pineapple, then spices settle into green tea, cardamom and pepper. Very long and herbal finish, grapefruit and honey, calissons d'Aix, white grapes, a pinch of salt.

 

In Short, 

A beautiful expression, where fruit is prominent but topped with delicate, oily notes of rose and almond. I think this is an excellent whisky, and what's more, the bottle had only just been opened when I tasted it, so I'm sure it will blossom and become even better. The price is of course significant, especially as it is a rarity and sold out everywhere, but it is one for collectors and die-hard enthusiasts. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           No Clear Mind - When You're Not Here

Glenburgie 1964 Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection 59 yo

 

 

 

52,9°

Distillery : Glenburgie - Speyside

1st Fill Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Distilled on 8 January 1964 and bottled on 16 August 2023, this one has spent exactly 59 years, 7 months and 8 days in a 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead. The length of a lifetime. Of course, every effort has been made to ensure that the spirit is kept in optimum conditions, with no chill filtration or colouring, and the 141 bottles that have reached us must live up to what age inspires in us, a profound respect. Thank you to Gordon & MacPhail for creating such a rarity, and above all thank you for opening a bottle to share it with ordinary whisky-lovers. A real class act.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very clean profile, precious wood that is totally smooth and untreated, great breadth and depth of aromas, exotic fruit that gradually reveals itself, mango, papaya, pineapple, stewed fruit sprinkled with cinnamon and slivered ginger, mirabelle plums, cooked apples, pears and figs. Finally, candied fruit, cherries, angelica and grapes. An ounce of vanilla and citrus to top it all off, semi-salted butter on thick slices of bread. On the palate, dried fruit, bananas, dates, quetsche clafoutis, dark chocolate, coffee grounds. Roasted hazelnuts and cashews, very long spices, nutmeg, white pepper. Powerful, extremely long finish, heather, orange peel, a pinch of sea salt, dry earth, fluffy sand.   

 

In Short, 

It was a great privilege, but above all a great opportunity, to be there and to taste such a nectar. Unfortunately, a single centilitre didn't allow me to discover all its secrets, far from it. I really did get the feeling of something smooth and uncluttered, something peaceful, like a vast landscape of plains as far as the eye could see. I was surprised by the power of the finish after all these years. This is a truly exceptional whisky, unique in the world. And the intergalactic price reflects this anomaly, this prodigious character.

Score : 93

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Sohn - Is Love Permanent, or Does It Evaporate With Us?

Glenburgie-Glenlivet 2010 Cadenhead Original Collection 13 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Glenburgie - Speyside

Refill Bourbon Barrels, Port Casks and Refill Bourbon Finish

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

These gentlemen from Cadenhead are definitely very thorough, and here they have once again opted for triple maturation. The whisky first spent 10 years in Refill Bourbon Barrels, then 26 months in Port casks. At this point, the team felt that the Port casks overpowered the spirit, so they put the liquid back into Refill Bourbon Barrels, for 11 months. They're always looking for the right balance.

Let's Taste It : 

Slightly acidic and sour notes, pink currants, dried oranges, ginger, ginseng roots. Candied cherries, quetsches, clafoutis. Soft wood, candies, sweet herbs. A few hazelnuts and cashew nuts. On the palate, meaty caramel, viandox, wine sauce. We're more into blackberries and forest berries. Perhaps a little blackcurrant. Small tomatoes, pomegranate seeds, muscat grapes. Spices quite present. Fairly long finish, not very powerful, coffee and dark chocolate, damp earth, pipe tobacco, crushed nuts.

 

In Short, 

The Port is still quite powerful, it must have been very strong before the finish in Refill Bourbon Barrels. Here, the result is pleasant, but with a slight acidity. I like the influence of the Port casks, so I liked it. The price is just decent. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Steely Dan - Do It Again

Glenburgie 1995 Artist #14 Rothes Glen Over 25 yo

 

 

 

54,7°

Distillery : Glenburgie - Speyside

Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Still in the 14th Batch of the Artist range, and subtitled Rothes Glen to pay homage to the architect Charles Doig, this Glenburgie distilled in 1995 is considered to be over 25 years old, but in fact it's more like 28 years old that should be claimed on the label. The latter is adorned with a work by Victor Ekpuk entitled Returnee. 200 bottles have been crafted, and reserved for the French market.

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very creamy, with cake pastry, custardy vanilla, and some exotic fruit in the background, pineapple, grapefruit, banana, but also pear, peach, mirabelle plum, cereals galore and acacia honey, puffed rice, cracked wheat, barley. Almond milk, semi-salted butter. The palate is delicate, even silky, the cereals are there, sprinkled with lemon, but also pastry cream, pulpy white fruit, cinnamon, rosemary and black pepper. The finish is as long as I'd hoped, as creamy as ever, liquorice, caramel, almond paste, candied fruit, shortbread biscuits.

 

In Short, 

It's an excellent Glenburgie, less saturated with fruit than some others I've tasted, but infused with cream, almonds, vanilla and icing sugar. It really is beautifully made. Unfortunately, the price is excessive, which is often the case with this range. So it's best reserved for absolute fans and, if possible, wealthy.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                            Nina Nesbitt - The Mountain & The Man                                  

Glenburgie 2008 Exceptional Cask 100 Proof Edition #2 15 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Glenburgie - Speyside

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The 100 Proof range includes the Exceptional Cask sub-range, which brings together bottlings aged 15 years or more. This is a 15-year-old Glenburgie, aged in first-fill Oloroso Sherry Butts. The number of bottles produced is not known, and unlike the regular range, the bottles are not numbered. 

Let's Taste It : 

Fresh iodine, icing sugar, ethereal vanilla. Zesty mirabelle plum, young leather, sultanas. Citrus fruits give a lovely fullness, between lemon and grapefruit. Egg yolk and nougat, hay, fine white fruits. Well-balanced on the palate, still citrusy, quite powerful spices, cumin, black pepper. Banana. The finish is long, with just the right amount of violence, langue de chat biscuits, peanut butter, soufflé. A few drops of lemon. Whipped eggs. Custard.

 

In Short, 

It's slightly better than the regular 100 Proof range, but not exceptional either. I find that the price is no longer as advantageous; it's considerably more expensive for being only slightly better. Perhaps Glenburgie fans will be happy with it.

Score : 88

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Ali & Andi - She'll Never Leave

Glenburgie-Glenlivet 1992 Cadenhead Single Cask 27 yo

 

 

 

48,9°

Distillery : Glenburgie - Speyside 

Bourbon Hoghshead 

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Cadenhead has not finished making a name for itself, thanks in part to this Single Cask collection, one of the most prestigious. This is a fine Glenburgie from the last century, very simply aged in a single Bourbon cask to bring out the purity of the distillate. All sold in 222 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Black wheat. Peanut butter, maple syrup, vergeoise. Pine needles, freshly cut wood. Eucalyptus honey, and soon eucalyptus leaves. Peppermint, sage. Lemon, but well hidden. On the palate, honey, olive oil, it's really smooth. Then the spices rise, paprika, curry, nutmeg, cloves. The finish is very long, with honey and olives, woody notes, a pinch of cinnamon, hand cream and argan. This finish takes us to the other side. A few drops of lemon juice at the end.

 

In Short, 

I was expecting an explosion of fruit, but that's not what happened. If the nose left me a little unimpressed, the palate on the other hand captivated me, very oily and silky, I felt like I was drinking olive oil, but very good. And it was the finish that won me over. Endless, not explosive but robust, it leaves you with a deep sense of well-being. Bottling completely sold out, don't expect to find it, it would be a miracle.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Anohni - Candy Says

Glenburgie 1995 Cask Strength Collection 23 yo c. 6576 & 6577

 

 

 

52,5°

Distillery : Glenburgie - Speyside 

Bourbon Hogsheads

Independznt Bottling

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

The distillery is used exclusively to produce the famous Ballantine's blend. Sometimes you come across independent bottlings of Single Malt from this distillery under the name Glencraig. That's why it's so rare to taste Glenburgie Single Malt presented as it is. Especially in cask strength. This is a blend of two different casks, resulting in 328 bottles.

Let's Taste It : 

Damsons, prunes and grains, intense cereals, wheat, oats, puffed rice. Hay, dry earth, roasted peanuts and cashew nuts. A few dried grapes. In the countryside, on a bright sunny day. The palate is lighter, with orchard fruits, apples and pears. Juicy fruits, with no acidity. And even a few vegetables, carrots, fennel, leeks. Barely noticeable spices. Very pleasant finish, long and sweet, with vanilla. Return of cereals in retro-olfaction. Sparkling lemonade.

In Short, 

A curiosity, and a high quality whisky for Speyside lovers. This is a glimpse of what they could do at Glenburgie if they really bothered, instead of just making do with Ballantine's. This bottling, which is all too rare, is of course sold out.

Score : 88

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Scott Walker - Just One Smile