Glenburgie 2012/2022 Càrn Mòr 9 years old Single Speyside Malt Whisky 47,5%

Nine years in a bourbon cask and nothing else. It is the shortest route to finding out what a distillery actually makes, and Càrn Mòr has not laid a layer of sherry on top to dress the result up. 800 bottles, and then the cask was empty.

The expert's description

Glenburgie 2012/2022 Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited 9 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a bourbon cask and bottled at 47.5%.

The whisky was distilled in 2012 and bottled in 2022 after nine years, with an outturn of 800 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. Nine years is young, but the Glenburgie spirit is soft enough to manage without many years of cask time, and a bourbon cask lets the bright fruit stand forward rather than covering it.

Strictly Limited is the range in the Càrn Mòr family where the younger casks get their space. Over the years the run has held whisky from Ardmore, Glen Ord, Bunnahabhain, Benrinnes, Ben Nevis, Caol Ila, Mortlach and a long list of other distilleries, always at the same fixed strength of 47.5%.

Tasting notes

Nose

Bright and fresh. Bitter grapefruit and almond, with Danish pastry and vanilla custard behind. A cereal malt note sits under the fruit.

Palate

Clean and direct. Vanilla custard and bright fruit, with a bitter citrus edge that keeps the sweetness from turning dull. The youth registers as a dry sharpness rather than as rawness.

Finish

Medium. Vanilla and grapefruit peel ebbing away into a dry, lightly almondy close.

Specifications

Name: Glenburgie 2012/2022 Càrn Mòr 9 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 47.5%
Distillery: Glenburgie
Bottler: Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 47.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 800
Edition: Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited
EAN no.: 5060109228977

Flavour profile

Fruity · Citrus · Vanilla-sweet · Dry · Young

Did you know?

Glenburgie sits on a side road off the A96 between Forres and Elgin, with no signage to draw attention to it. For all its size, it is one of those distilleries people drive past without knowing what is in there.

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Frequently asked questions about Glenburgie 2012/2022 Càrn Mòr 9 Year Old

Is nine years too young?

Not for this spirit. Glenburgie makes a soft, fruity distillate that does not need decades in wood to feel complete. Nine years in bourbon gives just enough rounding for the whisky to stand up, and in return you get more distillery and less wood.

How does it differ from the sherried Càrn Mòr Glenburgies?

Completely. The bourbon cask gives vanilla, citrus and bright fruit, where the sherry casks give raisin, nuts and dark fruit. If you want to taste what Glenburgie itself makes, this is the best starting point of the three. See the other Scottish styles in our Scotch Whisky selection.

What does Strictly Limited mean?

That it is the Càrn Mòr range for younger casks, where the strength is always 47.5%. The range has held whisky from a long list of Scottish distilleries, and what they share is small outturns and the fact that each release is made only once.

Why does it taste bitter with grapefruit?

Because young spirit in a bourbon cask often develops exactly that note. The citrus edge is not a fault — it is part of the character and works as a counterweight to the vanilla sweetness from the cask.

Should I add water?

Rarely. At 47.5% and nine years the whisky is already light, and water thins it out quickly. If you want to try, take one drop and stop there.

Is it peated?

No. There is no peat in Glenburgie production. The dry edge comes from citrus and cask, not from smoke.

Who does it suit?

Someone who wants to taste a distillery without sherry laid over the top. It is also a sensible choice in summer or as the first dram of an evening, where a heavy sherry bomb would shut the palate down straight away.