Glen Keith 28 Years Old Cask #Batch GK/001

Glen Keith from the distillery, a 28 year old, cask Batch GK/001, at 43%. Glen Keith is a modern Speyside malt on Balloch Hill water, built in the 1950s. It was Seagram's experimental plant, and still houses the Chivas Brothers lab.

It 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. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a light vanilla and a soft honey. Through the evaporative decades the spirit concentrates, esters folding into mango, beeswax and a soft honey. Maturation in the racked warehouses at Keith is slow and steady. It was mothballed in 1999 and revived by Pernod Ricard in 2013 after a full refit. Much of the Glen Keith make went to the blenders, a little kept as single malt. Refill oak lets the light, fruity Glen Keith character lead the way. The tall, narrowing stills give a light spirit that takes the cask well.

At an approachable 43% it is light and clean. A fresh, fruity sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Pear, citrus and a creamy vanilla fill the middle. The finish is long, fruity and clean. This is the light, fresh malt of Keith.