Speyside SPEY 12 Years Old (46%)

This official Speyside Distillery single malt, a 12 year old release and bottled at 46%. 3000 bottles in all. The Speyside Distillery was built by hand on a former barley mill site at Tromie Mills, the most southerly Speyside distillery; it gave the screen distillery Lagganmore in Monarch of the Glen. George Christie bought the land in 1956 and had a stonemason raise the distillery by hand over the years that followed.

Distilled on River Tromie water in a tiny pair of pot stills, building the gentle Speyside style it is loved for. A Tawny Port cask gave a raisined, red fruit depth. Past a decade the fruit deepens into honey, soft spice and a fuller body. The short stills give body, which slow running and a clean cut keep light. Water is drawn from the River Tromie through the old mill lade and waterwheel. It is the most southerly Speyside distillery, nearest of all to the source of the Spey.

At 46% it is supple and honeyed. The Port cask adds plum, red berry and raisin, and orchard fruit and a floral lift sit alongside soft vanilla and honey from the cask. A ripe pear and a gentle spice lift it. Apple, honey and oak draw out the close. This is the fresh Speyside style of the SPEY range.