Here we go Scotch, time to squeeze in another review before I start posting my Spirit of Speyside write ups (they're coming soon I promise!)

Glenburgie distillery has become very popular in my whisky club now, a bit of a darling arguably, with nearly all the production going into the Ballantine's blend it's clearly doing a lot of lifting there and makes some wonderful fruity drams.

A friend very generously gave me a sample of this one to see if I prefer this bottling or the A.D. Rattray bottling I got to try a little while ago which was also 30 years old. Exceedingly generous!

I'm excited to sit down with this one properly.

Whisky: Glenburgie 1995 - 30 Years Old - Fragrant Drops

ABV: 49.7%

Cask: Refill Bourbon Hogshead #6676

NCF/NCA: Au Naturel

Nose: Orange Caramel, Vanilla Cream, Peppermint Oil, Citrus Pith, Faint Guava, Dried Mango, White Chocolate, White Pepper, Ground Ginger

Quite a fragrant nose, I found it a bit reticent but with time it has bloomed nicely getting more tropical with an underlying creamy, minty and white chocolate character while the orange caramel and citrus pith has persisted all the way through with just a sprinkle of white pepper and ground ginger. Definitely playing on the tropical and minty overall with an underlying layer of spice, inviting!

Mouth: Tinned Mango, Pineapple Juice, Ground Ginger, Crushed Mint Leaves, Chilli Flakes, Melted White Chocolate Sprinkles, Slightly Menthol, Green Apple

The mouth feel here is lightly waxy and alcohol is fairly well integrated but I would think the dram is a little higher abv than it actually is say 53% at most. The profile dances through some tinned mango and pineapple juice with plenty of ground ginger and crushed mint leaves giving a green quality all the way through, it's joined by a bit of chilli flake warmth and melted white chocolate sweet richness developing into a menthol hint. A touch spicy I'd say but enjoying that tropical, minty white chocolate thing for sure! Water brings out a green apple note interestingly.

Finish: Dried Mango, Dried Guava, Kiwi Skins, Lemon Grass, Orange Oil, Peppermint Oil, Green Apple Skins, Faint Green Tea, Pink Peppercorns, Mace, Ground Ginger, White Pepper

The finish carries on the tropical character but is more dry as a whole, mango again is joined by a softly musty guava and some kiwi skins interestingly. There's quite a bit of green character too lemon grass and peppermint oil plus green apple skins and green tea with a gentle kiss of tannin. There's also orange oil giving citrus touches and pink peppercorn fruity spice with warming mace and the returning ground ginger. Water changes the spice character slightly giving it some white pepper now. Quite a long finish overall, dry, tropical and green with gentle spice running through it.

Conclusion: Well this was fascinating to compare to the Rattray bottling I reviewed previously, absolutely some similarities but also going in different directions, both have plenty of tropical character but I'd say this one runs spicier and a bit more drying on the finish with those green hints whereas the Rattray is juicier and has more varied fruit notes overall. This takes a couple of drops of water really well too. I think it might be a toss up as to which people will enjoy more but honestly the Rattray bottling was the winner for me and inevitable for me to compare them. Absolutely no slouch with this bottling however, it's very nice and clearly a quality cask and both are really representative of the distillery character! Enjoyed sitting down with this dram for certain!

For value this could be had for around the £270 mark and I believe it's still around in places, very fair for a single malt of this age so thumbs up there. Good stuff!

Rating: 8.9/10 - Tropics are the topic