Glen Keith 23 Years Old 1997 Cask #72586 (Signatory)

A Glen Keith of a 23 year old chosen by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 1997, from cask 72586, bottled at 54%, one of 252 bottles. Glen Keith is a clean, fruity Speyside malt from the town of Keith in Moray. It was Seagram's experimental plant, and still houses the Chivas Brothers lab.

The spirit was run through the tall stills on Balloch Hill water for a light make, building the fresh Glen Keith style. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the light spirit. Through the evaporative decades the spirit concentrates, esters folding into mango, beeswax and a soft honey. Long ageing turns the fresh apple towards tropical fruit, honey and a soft spice. Balloch Hill water and the tall stills give the light Glen Keith make. Its tall, narrowing stills give a light, fruity Speyside spirit. It ran triple distillation from the start, switching to double distillation by the 1980s.

At 54%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. Green apple, pear and a soft malt, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked apple and a gentle spice lift it. The close is light and clean, fruit over a gentle oak. This is the light, fresh malt of Keith.