Speyside SPEY Tenné (46%)

This official Speyside Distillery single malt and bottled at 46%. Only 7200 bottles were released. Hand built over two decades by the stonemason Alex Fairlie in the Cairngorm foothills near Kingussie, the Speyside Distillery is one of Scotland's smallest. The first single malt, Drumguish, appeared in 1993, three years after the first spirit ran.

The spirit was run slow through small copper stills for a light, fruity spirit, to build a fresh, orchard fruit character. A Tawny Port cask gave a raisined, red fruit depth. No age is given, but the fresh fruit marks it as classic Speyside Distillery make. A long fermentation and slow distillation in the short stills are managed by hand to keep the spirit light and fruity. 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 clean and fruity. The Port cask adds plum, red berry and raisin, and green apple and a gentle spice sit alongside a quiet vanilla from the refill oak. It is fresh and clean, the fruity spirit shining through. It finishes clean, fresh and fruity. This is the SPEY single malt from near Kingussie.