Whisky: Glenburgie 7 Year (2011), SMWS 71.66 "Farmyard feedback loop"

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 58.4%

Cask: First Fill Bourbon Barrel

Age: 7 Years (Distilled 2 Sept. 2011)

Nose: Mango and blood oranges, peaches and cream, salt, bath bombs and bath salts, hints of clovers, camphor, and grass, subtle notions of a barnyard in the spring, fresh and green, tropical fruits.

Palate: Medium to full-bodied and very oily, a bundle of tropical fruits with mango, pineapple, passion fruit, orange, and vanilla, a kiss of salt and grassy sugar cane sweetness with a touch of lime, hints of a musty barn provided a contrast to fresh fruits and green grass.

Finish: Long and lingering finish with tropical fruits, syrup, and a kiss of salt.

Score: 7-8

Mental Image: First Time on Risa

Narrative & Notes: They say you never forget your first, and while that saying is usually applied to romantic firsts, I find it applies to many things in life. This bottle was the very first Glenburgie I ever purchased— in fact, I had a friend buy it for me during a free shipping event, as he had an SMWS membership, and I did not. I was intrigued by the flavor notes and the name— Farmyard feedback loop— sounded like something right up my alley. I love funky farm notes on whisky, and this bottle pushed me over the edge to get my own membership.

My peat monster wife labeled this a “bath scotch” from the moment she first tasted it, and it was one of the first tropical, oily bottles that she enjoyed, especially during a nice soak. I heartily agree, and the overall effect of the flavors always puts me in the mind of a bath bomb or a tropical spa.

Over the years, the whisky has changed slightly, becoming more tropical and a touch less sweet. It has remained just as oily as it was at the beginning, though the farmyard funkiness has gradually faded so that now it feels more like a barn being aired out in the spring— it is musty and grassy but also fresh and crisp. It is an interesting contrast. Indeed, I think the whisky might be more interesting four years on than it was initially.

Overall, fantastic— but I am heavily biased. It was a gateway whisky for me, holding a special place in my heart. I have had a lot of Glenburgie since I first poured this— but it remains a favorite.