Glen Keith 31 Years Old

A 31 year old Glen Keith, a distillery bottling, at 48.9%. Glen Keith is a modern Speyside malt on Balloch Hill water, built in the 1950s. Single malt Glen Keith is rare, most of it coming from independent bottlers.

It was worked through the tall stills for a light, sweet make, building a light, fruity character of green apple and pear. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending vanilla and a little coconut. In its ethereal years the malt is waxy and oxidative, faded esters and a touch of sotolon (maple, dried fig). Refill oak lets the light, fruity Glen Keith character lead the way. Much of the Glen Keith make went to the blenders, a little kept as single malt. Its first permanent single malt was released in 2017, the Distillery Edition. It ran triple distillation from the start, switching to double distillation by the 1980s. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit.

At its natural 48.9% it is concentrated. Pear, melon and a light honey, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked apple and a gentle spice lift it. The finish runs light, fruity and clean. This is a fresh, fruity Speyside malt from the Chivas stable.