Glenburgie 2010/2022 Carn Mor 12 years old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 47,5%

Càrn Mòr bottled two Glenburgies from 2010 in the same year. One sat in oloroso, the other — this one — in Pedro Ximénez. Same spirit, same vintage and almost the same age, but two different sherry types, and the difference is clear in the glass.

The expert's description

Glenburgie 2010/2022 Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited 12 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead and bottled at 47.5%.

The whisky was distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2022 with an outturn of 1,418 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. PX sherry is made from sun-dried grapes and is far sweeter than oloroso. The casks give raisin, fig and dark syrup rather than the dry nuttiness oloroso lays in, and on a bright spirit like Glenburgie’s that means a noticeably rounder whisky.

The Glenburgie style is fruity, soft and elegant, with juicy apples, pears and bright malt notes. Càrn Mòr bottlings are known for letting that clean profile through, and here the PX cask gives a balance of sweetness, freshness and lightly spiced depth.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisin and fig first, with dark syrup and a warm spice note. Beneath the sweetness sit ripe fruit, vanilla and a trace of citrus.

Palate

Round and sweet. Ripe fruit, honey and vanilla, with cereal malt underneath and a lightly spiced depth towards the end. The PX cask takes up room, but the appley freshness gets through.

Finish

Pleasant and medium. Raisin and vanilla drying slowly into a lightly nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Glenburgie 2010/2022 Càrn Mòr 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 47.5%
Distillery: Glenburgie
Bottler: Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 47.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1,418
Edition: Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited
EAN no.: 5060109229608

Flavour profile

Sherried · Sweet · Fruity · Malty · Spiced

Did you know?

Glenburgie is one of the largest distilleries in the Chivas Brothers portfolio, yet it is almost never released as an official single malt. Nearly all of it goes into blends, which is why independent bottlers account for the great majority of bottles carrying the name.

See our full range of Glenburgie
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Frequently asked questions about Glenburgie 2010/2022 Càrn Mòr 12 Year Old

What is the difference between PX and oloroso in a whisky cask?

Pedro Ximénez is made from sun-dried grapes and is very sweet, with raisin, fig and dark syrup. Oloroso is drier and gives nuts, dark fruit and a firm bitterness. A PX cask rounds the whisky off, where an oloroso cask tightens it up.

How does it differ from the Càrn Mòr 11 year old Glenburgie?

Only the cask and a single year separate them. The 11 year old sat in oloroso and is drier and nuttier, while this one has PX and is therefore sweeter and rounder. Same spirit, same vintage, two different directions.

Is it too sweet?

That depends on what you are used to. PX casks can turn syrupy, but at twelve years and 47.5% there is enough structure in the whisky to keep the sweetness in place. If you prefer dry whiskies, the oloroso version is the better call. See the other Scottish styles in our Scotch Whisky selection.

What characterises the Glenburgie spirit?

Fruitiness and softness. The distillery makes a bright spirit with apple, pear and pale malt, and that is one of the reasons it is so sought after for blending. It handles both bourbon and sherry casks without turning heavy.

Is it peated?

No. Glenburgie works exclusively with unpeated malt, and there is no peat character in the whisky.

Does it suit dessert?

Yes, it works well with anything involving dried fruit or caramel — an apple cake, a fig tart or a serving of vanilla ice cream with burnt sugar. The PX sweetness meets the dessert without competing with it.

How many bottles are there?

1,418. That is the outturn for this particular parcel, and once it is gone it will not be made again. Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited releases are one-off bottlings with a fixed number of bottles.