Glenburgie 10 Year Old 2008 Asta Morris AM116

Glenburgie is one of those distilleries that you don’t come across very often. Founded in 1810 as the Kinflat distillery (renamed in 1878), she produces the fingerprint malt in many well-known blends, including Ballantine’s. Bert Bruyneel, the man who runs Asta Morris, clearly has a weak spot for this malt, as he has already bottled 6 single casks. This 10 years old he launched in 2018 after it had been finished on a Foursquare rum cask – one he bottled himself under the Rasta Morris banner – after cutting it to 52% ABV.

The nose is fairly classic at first: fruity on citrus, vanilla, honey and breakfast cereals. Some meringue and the crust of white bread. Barely any spices. This is a spring fresh malt.

It is perfectly quaffable without water, but at the same time surprisingly spicy. The pepper takes care of a bite, while the white fruit and pastry notes are joined by dried apricots and some kiwi. A fresh note of mint appears. Midpalate it turns pretty sweet, somewhat waxy and more citrus kicks in. Dangerously quaffable indeed.

In the medium long finish, which remains peppery, some litchi appears, but pretty soon it leaves the mouth fairly dry.

I have described Glenburgie as an autumn malt before, but this one can be sipped a season earlier. Spring in your glass. Around 65 EUR.

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