Introduction Cadenhead’s bottlings have always felt like a peek behind the curtain—single cask, often cask strength, and typically without any dressing-up. I picked up this 13-year-old Glenburgie from their Authentic Collection because I’ve had positive experiences with the distillery in blends, but I hadn’t tried it on its own very often. Plus, a straightforward bourbon-cask Speyside without heavy cask manipulation sounded appealing at the time—something clear and honest. Nose On the nose, it opened with soft orchard fruits—green apple and pear skin—alongside vanilla cream and fresh barley. The aroma didn’t overpower, but it carried a tidy balance between sweetness and something just a little raw and earthy. A hint of lemon zest emerged the longer it sat in the glass, and there was a grassy freshness that reminded me of dried wildflowers. It didn’t feel overly complex, but there was a clarity to what was there. Palate The palate stayed close to what the nose suggested. Light on the tongue but with enough body to avoid feeling thin, it offered green fruits again—particularly underripe pear and a touch of white grape. The vanilla note from the nose became a bit more creamy here, almost custard-like, and was backed up by pale oak and gentle spices—white pepper and maybe a touch of clove. There was also a faint waxiness that surprised me, adding a slight texture to what might otherwise have been a very clean and crisp sip. Finish The finish was medium in length, leaning toward short, and fairly dry. The oak came through more strongly here—light, never bitter—along with a drying grassiness and soft spice. Nothing lingered too long. It wrapped up simply and quietly, which suited the whisky’s overall character. No frills, no sudden turns. Price and Value This bottle was priced in the range I’ve come to expect from Cadenhead’s—reasonable for an independently bottled single malt of this age, especially considering the cask strength and lack of colouring or chill-filtration. Does it blow away similarly aged whiskies? Not at all. But in terms of value, I’d say it delivers a steady, authentic experience for its price point. You’re paying for integrity of cask and distillate, not fanfare. Background Glenburgie is a Speyside distillery often found in blends, most notably Ballantine’s, but it’s rarely bottled as a single malt by the distillery itself. That’s where independent bottlers like Cadenhead’s come in. This 13-year-old was distilled in 2011 and matured in a single bourbon hogshead before bottling at 56.6%. With no added colour and no chill-filtration, what you’re tasting is a focused snapshot of the distillate itself after a relatively clean cask maturation. Final Notes Would I buy it again? Probably not, but not because I regret the purchase—it just didn’t bring enough individuality to make it a must-have repeat. That said, for a whisky enthusiast curious about what Glenburgie tastes like on its own, this is a solid reference point. Is it suitable for newcomers? I’d say yes, especially for those interested in understanding Speyside malts in their more natural form, without sherry or peat distraction. This whisky feels well-suited to a quiet evening when you’re not looking for anything showy—just something honest in the glass. If you're wondering how it compares to other Speyside malts, it has more restraint than a typical Glenlivet or Glenfiddich but shares a similar clean fruitiness. If you're after a profile that leans more towards sherry richness or deep spice, this probably won’t hit the spot—but as an example of straightforward bourbon cask maturation, it holds its own.