Glen Keith 27 Years Old 1993 Cask #97139 (Connoisseurs Choice)

From the Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail, a 27 year old Glen Keith, distilled in 1993, from cask 97139, bottled at 52%, one of 259 bottles. Glen Keith is a Speyside single malt from Keith, the first new Speyside distillery since the 1898 crash. Its first permanent single malt was released in 2017, the Distillery Edition.

Distilled light and fruity in the Glen Keith style, giving a clean, sweet Speyside spirit. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a light vanilla and a soft honey. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend a drying structure while oxidation builds a richer, tropical fruit. The tall, narrowing stills give a light spirit that takes the cask well. It was the first distillery in Scotland to use gas fired direct heating. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. Its tall, narrowing stills give a light, fruity Speyside spirit.

At a hearty 52% it carries real weight. A clean, fruity sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run green apple, pear and a soft vanilla. A fresh finish ends on apple and a soft oak. This is a clean, fruity Speyside single malt.