Thanks to /u/throzen for sharing a dram of this.
Glenburn 25 1994 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection. Interesting. Never had a Glenburn. Let’s see what I can find out from others.
Oh. Nothing. Well let’s see what I can google…
You know. Glenburn. That distillery people talk about.… It’s… made… dammit… what is this? Why does no one talk about this?
Glenburn was a distillery in Aberdeen from the 19th century. It lasted nearly 40 years until it was mothballed.
So am I drinking something from over 200 years ago? No, not at all. Holy hell what kind of bougie life do you think I live? No, this has been named Glenburn, but isn’t from Glenburn.
This is a blended malt that was aged 25 years. In a sherry butt. Is it teaspooned? Is it an homage to a dead distillery from the Highlands? Who knows. What I know is that it was poured for me and I appreciate it.
Let’s see what it tastes like, shall we?
Price: $310 CAD
Region: Blend
Vintage: 20.01.1994
Bottled: 04.11.2019
Cask Type: Sherry Butt
Cask number: 1
No. of bottles: 330
Abv: 54.9%
Colour: 2.5Y 7/10
Nose: Raspberry, grapefruit, molasses, Nerds, peach pie
Sherry influence. What’s in it? I have no idea. Different levels of sugar and acidity. Just a touch of butter and spice.
So we’ve determined a sherry cask was used. Go us.
Taste: Raspberry tart, heather, lime zest, apple, orange
More butter, more of that raspberry, some grass notes. If someone was attempting to recreate a Highland, they nailed it. Acidity, butter, and honey. Not a floral bomb, and not caramel/oak dominant like a Speyside.
Again, I have no idea what went into this. I’m really bad at it. But it’s a fruity blend, that’s for certain.
Finish: Raspberry syrup, raisin, cedar, heather, peach skin
More raspberry. Nice complexity. Good wood note, more of the similar flavours. It’s sherried but doesn’t feel like nothing but sherry. No rough notes either.
Conclusion: Sherry, decent complex, good nose. I think this is one of those whiskies you pour for non-whisky fans. It’s complex enough, it’s not rough, and it’s doing it’s thing. It’s not going to hit new heights but it’s really quite tasty.
So what we have is a smooth sherried dram. I’m not hating it. And if you like raspberries, get it.
84/100
Scotch review #1350, Blend review #122, Whisky Network review #2022
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