Glen Keith 29 Years Old 1992 Cask #84255 (Archives)

From the bottler Archives, a 29 year old Glen Keith, distilled in 1992, from cask 84255, bottled at 48.5%, one of 180 bottles. Glen Keith is a modern Speyside malt on Balloch Hill water, built in the 1950s. It was the first new distillery to open in Speyside since the great whisky crash of 1898.

It was distilled from unpeated malt in tall, narrowing stills, giving a clean, sweet Speyside spirit. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the light fruit lead. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend a drying structure while oxidation builds a richer, tropical fruit. Years in oak round the spirit, the green apple deepening to honey and tropical fruit. Balloch Hill water and the tall stills give the light Glen Keith make. It was Seagram's experimental plant, and still houses the Chivas Brothers lab. Its tall, narrowing stills give a light, fruity Speyside spirit.

At its natural 48.5% it is concentrated. Green apple, pear and a soft malt, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run green apple, pear and a soft vanilla. Apple, pear and a soft oak see out the finish. This is Glen Keith, Seagram's experimental Speyside malt.