Glenburgie 12 Year (1987), Douglas Laing’s Old Malt Cask
Whisky: Glenburgie 12 Year (1987), Douglas Laing’s Old Malt Cask
Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside
ABV: 50%
Cask: Refill Hogshead
Age: 12 Years (Distilled Oct. 1987, Bottled June 2000)
Nose: Bright citrus with licorice and first aide antiseptic wipes; orange cream sodas appeared with a kiss of peppery oak and dried aromatic florals.
Palate: Medium-bodied and syrupy, floral, creamy, and sugary; lavender and violets with freshly scorched crème brûlée, butterscotch, and canned fruit punch with subtle hints of antiseptic wipes; tannic at times with wood char and savory charred fat or sugars.
Finish: Long and lingering with toasted sugars, citrusy cream, and a hint of dried florals.
Score: 7-8 (85)
Mental Image: Avant-Garde Dessert with a side of First Aide
Narrative & Notes: I enjoyed a blast from the past with this cask sample from Douglas Laing— back before the split with Hunter Laing who now bottle the Old Malt Cask label. This unusual Glenburgie was loaded with a confusing mix of sweet and antiseptic flavors that ranged from fruity to floral and even savory at the end.
I have never had such an odd combination from the distillery, especially those medicated wipes and first aid kit notes. It was a bit discordant at times, and the flavors, while delightfully strange at times, were not particularly well-structured or balanced. Yet, I love a weird malt and this was particularly unconventional.
Overall, I love the eccentricities that one can find with Glenburgie, though I suspect some might find some of those tannic charred wood notes to be a touch bitter or the floral elements too similar to Bowmore’s FWP era. I loved the creamy weirdness.
