Whisky: Glenburgie 10 Year (2011), SMWS 71.87 "Cowboys at Dinner"

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 58.2%

Cask: Oloroso Butt (8Y), First Fill Heavily Charred Puncheon

Age: 10 Years (Distilled 10 May 2011)

Nose: Brown sugar, molasses, Cuban coffee, leather, earth and sandstone, mesquite wood, baking chocolate, stewed beans, hints of dates.

Palate: Full-bodied, syrupy and tannic, dried fruits, brown sugar, butter, coffee, dried apples, wood, earth and minerals toward the end.

Finish: Medium to long and drying with caramelized sugars, earth, and hints of coffee

Score: 6/6-

Mental Image: Prairie-Chic Glamping

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was thick and unctuous, with rich brown sugar, molasses, baking chocolate, and hints of dates. Winter spices and mesquite wood joined in, starting a tug of war between Christmas in the old world or a chow wagon on the range. Cuban coffee with sticky sugars, sticky toffee pudding, and hints of chicory developed over an underlying earthiness of sandstone, wild mint, and dried sage. The notion of stewed black beans with salty bacon lingered in the background. Full-bodied, syrupy, and tannic, the flavor profile was sweet and unctuous with melted brown sugar, butter, and dark roasted coffee. Dates and chicory arrived next as the flavors took a sweeter turn with caramel fudge and hints of dried apple slides. A touch of burnt old mesquite with earth and sandstone awaited near the end. The finish was medium to long and drying with caramelized sugars, earth, and hints of coffee.

For a sherry bomb, this was not bad. I love Glenburgie, but I am far more lukewarm when it comes to malts obliterated by sherry. I picked this up hoping it would lean in a savory direction with its secondary maturation in a heavily charred puncheon— or maybe even drift toward balsamic. However, it was neither of those things. The nose had savory elements, but the palate was a reasonably straightforward cask affair. I appreciated the balance of sweetness, and if I am going to drink something drenched in sherry, I prefer these vaguely coffee-like profiles.

As this was not what I hoped for and did not have the Glenburgie character I love, I shared most of the bottle with friends. I kept about a quarter of it to taste and see how things changed with time. Some of the fruitier elements faded after about six months, and I still hope that this takes a more savory turn.

Overall, I really should have known this would not be my cup of tea. I am glad I got to share it with friends, some of whom adored it.