Glenturret 1987 28 Year Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

With the dreary, wet weather here in Michigan, I sought something to brighten my mood (intended pun). A fine, well-matured single malt seems like the ideal solution. I sampled this 28-year-old Glenturret from Douglas Laing's Old Particular range, a sample provided by my connection from the Georgia Bourbon Society. It was produced in December 1987 and bottled in November 2016 from refill hogshead cask #DL11511, with only 232 bottles chosen as a store selection for K&L Wines. It's presented at 49.7% ABV, without chill filtration and retaining its natural color, appearing yellow-gold. The aroma is initially subtle, with predominant vanilla, honey, and a restrained spicy oak. As it airs, the wood spice becomes more defined, showing notes of cloves and cinnamon, alongside some oak shavings. It carries a damp, musty quality reminiscent of old cardboard boxes in a basement. Further time in the glass, however, reveals a delightful array of fruity scents, including dried pineapple, toasted coconut, kiwi, cantaloupe, peaches, and papaya, accompanied by more vanilla. Hints of spearmint and eucalyptus emerge, with a touch of cranberry. It shifts towards a more savory profile with caramel, coffee, weak black tea, toffee, butterscotch, and additional honey. The oak reappears, but with a more tannic and bitter edge. It concludes with notes of cocoa powder, milk chocolate, and more of that sweet vanilla. The palate is rich and full-bodied. Abundant sweet vanilla is immediately followed by intense tropical fruits such as mango, pineapple, coconut, orange-pineapple juice, and a whisper of banana. There's some warmth, but it's a pleasant, mild burn. Light oaky notes and tannins are present, but it's primarily saturated with those tropical fruit flavors. A hint of cocoa powder and a bit of lemon custard are also detected. The mouthfeel is full, creamy, coating, and mouthwatering. The finish is medium in length, featuring those tropical fruits, vanilla, and milk chocolate, while the mouthfeel sensation persists exceptionally long. This is an outstanding bourbon-matured scotch. In my view, exclusively bourbon-matured spirits should either be under 12 years or over 25 years old. Younger ones are best used with heavily peated whisky to allow the spirit to stand out, and older ones are ideal for lighter single malts and grain whiskies to fully realize the potential of both the whisky and the wood. Anything in between is typically a missed opportunity (with exceptions, of course, and when combined with other cask types, those rules change). If you encounter a bottle from the Old Particular line, it's likely a worthwhile purchase; I haven't had a disappointing one yet. A solid 4.5 cheers.