Glenburgie 5yo, 2011-2017, C&S Dram Collection
ABV: 61.4%
Region: Speyside
Price per bottle: °
Bottling: C&S Dram
Cask type: Bourbon Barrel (#800538, 240 btl.)

Colour: White wine.
Nose: Fresh and fruity start on the nose with lingering vanilla and yellow fruit, mainly apricots and subtle pears. This is followed by a slightly floral note, hints of hay and geranium. The alcohol is very present, almost pungent.
Palate: Strong, intense and very powerful on the palate due to the high alcohol content! Very warming indeed. Behind that a discreet sweetness of vanilla and apricots emerges. Slightly creamy, but becomes dry with a touch of black pepper towards the finish. Very warm and long-lasting!
Finish: The finish shows medium length with a restrained sweetness of vanilla and honey. Slightly floral with geranium, leading to a warming end.
With water: Fruity and refreshing on the nose with apricots and pears by adding a splash of water. There's more vanilla coming through while the high-proof alcohol bite is significantly tamed. Still strong and powerful on the palate. The fruitiness is tamed while significantly more warming and prickling spice is coming to the fore with oak, cracked black pepper (even chili!) and nutmeg. The finish is medium long, warm and creamy with dry notes of oak on the tail.
Comments: This is an uncompromising, powerful and boisterous Speyside single malt. A massive attack to one's taste buds due to the high alcohol content. The filigree fruitiness and vanilla sweetness are almost unable to cope with the massive load of alcohol and spiciness. Too young for me, the flavours need time to meld. Although water helps to temper the alcohol bite it massively increases the spiciness of this young dram.

I thank Caminneci - Wine & Spirit Partner for the sample and the photograph!

Glenburgie 18yo, 1997-2015, Old Particular
ABV: 48.4%
Region: Speyside
Price per bottle: °°
Bottling: Douglas Laing
Cask type: Refill Sherry Butt (# DL10873, 744 btl.)

 

Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Quite fruity on the nose with pears, tropical fruits and lemons. Sweet and malty with a touch of tobacco and oak wood in the back.
Palate: Rich with fruity notes of peaches and citrus, followed by lingering caramel. A lovely warming spiciness emerges with oak, pepper and caramelised ginger. A delicate fruity and spicy harmony.
Finish: The finish is long and sweet with caramel and a pleasant nuttiness. Becomes slightly dry on the tail with cinnamon, cloves and spiced oak.
With water: Water tames a bit of the nice fruitiness bringing more woody flavours and a whiff of smoke to the fore. Fruity and creamy with loads of spices - oak, pepper and cinnamon - complemented by a filigree citric fruitiness towards the finish. The finish is long, less sweet but very dry with oak wood, black pepper, cinnamon and cloves.
Comments: A lovely Speyside dram with an enticing nose and lively palate. The refill butt delivers less sherry derived flavours but an attractive spiciness, which is pretty well countered by the aromatic fruitiness. I prefer it neat than diluted as water brings out too much of the oaky dryness.

 

I thank Douglas Laing for the sample and the photograph!

Glenburgie 18yo, 1997-2015, C&S Dram Collection
ABV: 55.9%
Region: Speyside
Price per bottle: °°
Bottling: C&S Dram
Cask type: Hogshead (#1914, 280 btl.)

Colour: Straw.
Nose: There's a fruity start on the nose with pear drops and apricot. A bit of sweetness with lingering vanilla in the background. Very complex with a touch of floral notes, hay and geranium. Rich, elegant, and slowly unwinding on citrus but still very entangled fruity aroma.
Palate: Now here comes the sweetness! Quite sweet with stewed pears, yellow plums and apricots. This is, however, rapidly displaced by a load of spices, hot spice! Cracked black pepper, crisp oak tannins, chili and cinnamon attack your tongue! Very warm and long-lasting!
Finish: The finish is quite long and warm with lingering bitter orange peel. Hot chili and a pleasant oak astringency in the back. Delicious.
With water: Fruity and refreshing on the nose with pears, yellow plums and apricots. Very fresh, fruity (tropical fruit) and vibrant on the palate with a significantly tamed spiciness. Creamy, clean, and precise with a fruity aftertaste. Very well balanced!
Comments: An enticing nose and lively palate. Quite complex. I prefer it diluted than neat as water significantly cuts the huge amount of spiciness on the palate leading to an enjoyable and very well balanced dram.

I thank Caminneci - Wine & Spirit Partner for sample and photograph!