Glen Spey 13 Years Old 2008 Cask #2007198 (Murray McDavid)

A 13 year old Glen Spey from Murray McDavid, distilled in 2008, from cask 2007198, at 55.9%, one of 290 bottles. Glen Spey is a Speyside single malt, most of it long destined for the blender's vat. It sits below the ruins of Castle Rothes, once the seat of the Earls of Rothes. James Stuart held the licence to Macallan at the time, and bought that distillery outright in 1886. Its stills carry purifiers, which raise the reflux and return the heavier vapours for a lighter, cleaner spirit.

It was distilled from unpeated malt, for a fine, clean malt the blenders have long prized. Maturation came in a Pedro Ximenez cask, layered over the fresh Glen Spey make. Through integration the spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend a riper orchard fruit over the nutty malt. Long ageing turns the green, herbal edge towards orchard fruit, honey and a gentle spice.

At 55.9%, undiluted, it is deep and waxy. Pear, cereal and a green, grassy lift, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. It is grassy and gently nutty, the delicate spirit shining through. A long, grassy finish carries a light fruit and a nutty malt. This is the delicate, grassy malt of Rothes.