Speyside Distillery 1993 ED (Edition Spirits)

A Speyside Distillery single malt, selected and bottled by Edition Spirits, a 24 year old release from 1993, drawn from cask HL 15001 and bottled at 59.4%. Only 123 bottles were released. The Speyside Distillery was slowly converted from an old mill by one stonemason close to the very source of the River Spey, and it grew from George Christie's vision of his own small distillery. Water comes from the River Tromie, drawn through the old mill lade that once turned the waterwheel.

The spirit was made in small stills after a long, ester building fermentation, for a soft, fruity make from short stills. Maturation came in American oak, with vanilla under the orchard fruit. Long ageing brings a deeper dried fruit character and a mellow oak spice. Sherry and Port wood suit the make well, lending dried and red fruit. It is the most southerly Speyside distillery, nearest of all to the source of the Spey.

Bottled at a cask strength 59.4%, it is rich. A gentle vanilla and coconut from the wood, with pear, honey and a fragrant lift. The texture is light and rounded, the fruit lifted by honey. A long, honeyed finish carries a fruity lift. This is the hand built malt of Drumguish.