Whisky: Glenburgie 14 Year (2004), Cadenhead’s

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 53.6%

Cask: Bourbon Hogshead

Age: 14 Year (Distilled 2004, Bottled Nov. 2018)

Nose: Fruit, butterscotch, cream, subtle salt, melon rind, preserved lemons, full-fat yogurt, tangerine, subtle herbal pine and thistle, mellow musty hay and sawdust.

Palate: Medium-bodied, preserved citrus, acidic, orange essence, spirited prickle, hints of herbal mint and catnip; with water more cream, butterscotch, Melona, cantaloupe, honey.

Finish: Medium-length with citrus and herbal tea.

Score: 5

Mental Image: Knock-Off Gelfing Essence

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was pleasant, with fruit, cream, and butterscotch over a subtle salt. Melon rind and preserved lemons arrived first, with full-fat yogurt offering a creamy twist to notes of tangerine and orange zest. Subtle notions of herbal pine and thistle slowly grew in the background with tea, honey, hay, and pine wood sawdust. Acidic and sharp, the medium-bodied palate featured a stampede of citrus and sparks of prickly spirit. Orange essence— or rind preserved in alcohol— arrived with preserved lemons, while herbal notions of mint and catnip arrived at the end. A few drops of water helped tame the heat and surface creamy Melona, cantaloupe, cocoa powder, and more herbal tea. The finish was medium-length with citrus and herbal tea.

Maybe my expectations for Glenburgie are just too high, but this did not work for me. A five felt charitable, considering how spirited this came across on the palate. The aroma was pleasant and promising— not the most complex, but fruit and cream are a lovely combination. The flavor profile did not fulfill the aroma's promise as the flavors felt simple and sharp, joined by a spirited prickle that was occasionally more than just a prickle. Water helped to tame the dram, but could not rescue the experience.

Overall, I love Glenburgie, so maybe I am compromised, and I am not sure if I graded this more harshly because it was Glenburgie or whether I scored higher. It was not horrible— not a drain pour by any measure— but it was possibly my least favorite malt from the distillery.

Image Credit: Whiskybase