Glen Keith 21 Years Old 1997 Cask #72596 + 72597 (Signatory)

This Glen Keith was bottled by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 21 year old, distilled in 1997, from cask 72596 + 72597, bottled at 46%, one of 564 bottles. Glen Keith is a clean, fruity Speyside malt from the town of Keith in Moray. It was built in 1957 by Seagram on the site of a meal mill, directly behind Strathisla.

The spirit was run through the tall stills on Balloch Hill water for a light make, for a light, elegant spirit with a soft malt. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin lending vanilla under the apple. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (apple and pear) and a honeyed depth. Years in oak round the spirit, the green apple deepening to honey and tropical fruit. It was Seagram's experimental plant, and still houses the Chivas Brothers lab. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. The tall, narrowing stills give a light spirit that takes the cask well.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. Green apple, pear and a soft malt, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A soft fruit and a gentle oak give it depth. It finishes light, fresh and fruity. This is the light, fresh malt of Keith.