Glen Keith 25 Years Old 1991 Cask #73635 (van Wees)

A Glen Keith of a 25 year old chosen by the Dutch bottler van Wees, distilled in 1991, from cask 73635, bottled at 46%, one of 234 bottles. 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.

The spirit was made on Balloch Hill water and condensed in shell and tube condensers, giving a clean, sweet Speyside spirit. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a light vanilla and a soft honey. Through the evaporative decades the spirit concentrates, esters folding into mango, beeswax and a soft honey. Built for the blender's art, the spirit ages with grace as a single malt. It was built in 1957 by Seagram on the site of a meal mill, directly behind Strathisla. Long ageing turns the fresh apple towards tropical fruit, honey and a soft spice. It sits within sight of Strathisla, the oldest distillery in Scotland.

At an approachable 46% it is light and clean. A light, orchard fruit and citrus, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The texture is light and clean, the fruit lifted by vanilla. The finish runs light, fruity and clean. This is a Speyside single malt of real lightness.