Glenburgie 24 Years (1997) - Ralph Steadman X Cask 88
Whisky is more than just enjoyment - it is craft, history and sometimes art. The Ralph Steadman Collection is dedicated to precisely this approach in collaboration with the independent bottler Cask 88. Each bottle not only carries a precious drop, but also an individual artwork by Ralph Steadman. At Glenburgie, everything revolves around the cooperage and distilling of the casks: "An essential part of the coopering process, cask firing is arguably the most spectacularly dramatic part of the whisky making process. The incredible intensity of the flames captured by Ralph Steadman in his arresting illustration mirrors the intense richness and unrelentingly long finish of this hand-selected cask."
The panel
Mean 88.5 · spread 1
Value for money 0/5
- Distillery
- Glenburgie
- Bottler
- Cask 88
- Type
- Single Malt
- Region
- Speyside
- Country
- Scotland
- Age
- 24 years
- Strength
- 55.2% ABV
- Character
- rich
Tasting
Nose
From the very first nosing, it is clear that no expense has been spared here. The whisky opens with an almost classic sherry flavour - sweet, dark, deep. Aromas of sultanas, dates and ripe red fruits rise to the nose, accompanied by delicate notes of plum and a hint of milk chocolate. The slightly tart undertone is interesting, grounding the fragrance and preventing it from tipping over into pompousness.
Palate
The picture continues on the palate: dark fruits in a rich guise, plus strong woody notes, some spice and a striking leatheriness. Despite the high alcohol content, the whisky is surprisingly smooth - you almost forget that you are dealing with 55.2 % vol. The structure is soft, but not without backbone. It is a heavy dram, a whisky that demands attention. And this is precisely its strength - and perhaps also its weakness.
Finish
After such an intense start, you almost expect a long finish - but this is exactly where Glenburgie surprises. The finish is rather medium in length, characterised by wood spice, a hint of bitterness and leather notes. The sweetness from the start recedes somewhat, with the cask presence dominating instead.
Verdicts
Marcel
A dramatic Glenburgie that really excites with its wild cask intensity and robust character – even if it doesn’t quite hold the stage in the finish that you’d hope for. This controlled chaos tastes of adventure and fine craftsmanship, exactly what makes a whisky with edges and quirks so thrilling.
Sascha
The Glenburgie 1997 clearly showcases cask dominance, which provides a striking structure but somewhat limits balance and complexity. Despite its impressive power, the finish feels comparatively short, slightly holding back the overall impression; nevertheless, the whisky remains a technically solid example of intense cask management.
What it is worth
No auction record for this distillery, so we cannot tell you what this bottle is worth. We would rather say that than guess.