Glen Keith 20 Years Old 1995 Cask #171203 (Signatory)

From the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 20 year old Glen Keith, distilled in 1995, from cask 171203, bottled at 46%. Glen Keith is a fruity Speyside single malt from the Chivas stable at Keith. Its make went largely into the Chivas Regal, Passport and 100 Pipers blends.

The spirit was run through the tall stills on Balloch Hill water for a light make, for a clean make of orchard fruit and a soft honey. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending vanilla and a little coconut. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are fully expressed, the light fruit deepening to honey. Years in oak round the spirit, the green apple deepening to honey and tropical fruit. The clean, fruity make takes cask flavour well while keeping its apple and pear. It was mothballed in 1999 and revived by Pernod Ricard in 2013 after a full refit. Balloch Hill water and the tall stills give the light Glen Keith make.

At 46% it is fresh, fruity and clean. Apple, pear and a soft vanilla, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft orchard fruit and a clean malt sit behind the cask. It finishes light, fresh and fruity. This is Glen Keith's clean, fruity Speyside style.