This Glenburgie 1997 was bottled from a first fill bourbon cask by Gordon & MacPhail for Bert Bruyneel’s label Asta Morris.

I’ve never seen this bottle design on a G&M Exclusive bottling before, it has a distinctive shape and the G&M letters are embossed on the neck. Must be a new styling.

Glenburgie 1997 (57,6%, Gordon & MacPhail Exclusive for Asta Morris 2011, bourbon cask #8551, 212 btl.)

Nose: youthful and aromatic. Starts relatively narrow on apples, barley and waxy notes, but it keeps developing and widening. Vanilla and cinnamon. Traces of honeysuckle. Almonds. Hints of pineapple. A few floral notes. Paraffin. Fresh oak shavings. Modern but really nice. Mouth: powerful attack, sweet and spicy. Slightly hot even. A jammy fruitiness (apples, pears, gooseberries, apricots) with vanilla, white pepper and ginger. Traces of coconut? Finish: long with fruits, spices and a lingering hint of moccha.

Remember how a Glenburgie 1988 surprised us recently? This younger Asta Morris release is just as nice and it’s cheaper as well. Perfect drinking whisky from a distillery that’s often overlooked. Around € 60.

Score: 89/100