Glen Keith 20 Years Old 1995 No. 4 (Maltmountains)

The bottler Maltmountains bottled this Glen Keith, a 20 year old, distilled in 1995, bottled at 48.8%, one of 60 bottles. Glen Keith is a light Speyside malt, mothballed for years and revived in 2013. Its make went largely into the Chivas Regal, Passport and 100 Pipers blends.

It 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 oxidative maturity esters concentrate, the apple turning honeyed and a soft tropical fruit creeping in. The clean, fruity make takes cask flavour well while keeping its apple and pear. It was the first distillery in Scotland to use gas fired direct heating. A gentle maturation suits the light make, the orchard fruit growing richer with time. It was mothballed in 1999 and revived by Pernod Ricard in 2013 after a full refit.

At a hearty 48.8% it carries real weight. Baked apple, citrus and a creamy vanilla, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The texture is light and clean, the fruit lifted by vanilla. The finish is long, fruity and clean. This is a clean, fruity Speyside single malt.