Speyside SPEY 12 Years Old (40%)

An official single malt from the Speyside Distillery matured to 12 year old and bottled at 40%. The Speyside Distillery, raised single handed by a drystone mason over some twenty years on a former mill site by the River Tromie, is the source of the SPEY malts. Short stills and a slow distillation are coaxed by hand towards a light, fruity spirit.

It was drawn off short stills coaxed by hand towards a delicate make, for a clean, honeyed spirit of real finesse. Maturation came in American oak, with vanilla under the orchard fruit. Mid age brings a deeper honey and a riper fruit note. A small, hands on operation keeps the spirit close to its maker's intent. George Christie bought the land in 1956, dreaming of his own small malt distillery. A stonemason, Alex Fairlie, laid every stone of the distillery by hand over some twenty years. Its two pot stills are among the smallest in Scotland, the whole works under one roof.

At 40% it is clean and fruity. The refill oak lending honey and vanilla, with apple, pear and heather honey. The mouthfeel is soft, the fruit carried on a honeyed body. The finish is rounded, honeyed and soft. This is a fruity malt from one of Scotland's smallest distilleries.