Years ago Glenburgie became one of my favorite distilleries, and for a while it seemed as though I could not throw a rock without hitting a wonderfully mature release from an independent bottler.  Those days feel like they have disappeared outside of the $1000+ premium market. Even my whisky shelf has suffered the drought and been whittled down from six open Glenburgie bottles to only two. I thought about buying this specific bottle many times, but it sat just outside of what I was willing to spend, so I hesitated until it was finally gone. When the chance to try it came up, I made sure I did not miss out.

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Whisky: Glenburgie 35 Year (1988), The Whisky Agency 15th Anniversary

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 42.6%

Cask: Hogshead

Age: 35 Years (Distilled 1988, Bottled 2024)

Notes: Gentle and initially austere with a quiet depth that slowly resolved into green mangos hanging in an old mango tree, plumeria, red ginger, and a mellow earthy petrichor— that sweet dry earth right when it starts raining. Hibiscus and passionflower teas arrived, more herbal than strictly floral, with plenty of unripened fruit, toasted bread, and hints of kaya, coconut jam. I recalled dusty wooden benches at the botanical garden— a perfect place for tea and toast. Light-bodied, like a feather duster across the palate, with a gradual crescendo of flavors; this was a whisky that asked for your patience, though the buildup was faster on subsequent revisits. Plenty of tropical teas appeared with hints of unripened, green fruits, and antique furniture— the sort of old wood note that always puts me in mind of rattan and wicker on a lanai. A kiss of salty earth, akin to petrichor, lingered with crumbly dry pastries. Medium-length, the finish was herbal with a touch of dried grass and earth, as tea chests and gentle tropical flowers receded.

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Score: 8 (89)

Mental Image: Tea in the Botanical Garden

Conclusion: Delicate and complex, this malt demanded patience— there was no hypersonic blast of sherry, peat, or oak across the senses. It developed much faster on subsequent re-pours, though I never bothered to see if water helped things along. The gentle hogshead maturation kept the influence of the cask in check, allowing a mellow herbal profile to come through with hints of fruit and tropical florals. Ultimately, quiet and unassuming— a malt to sit with. It reminded me strongly of the 27-Year Glenburgie the Thompson Brothers released for K&L, but taken to a higher level.