Glen Keith 30 Years Old 1994 (East Village Whisky Company)

From the East Village Whisky Company, a 30 year old Glen Keith, distilled in 1994, bottled at 53.6%, one of 57 bottles. Glen Keith is a light Speyside malt, mothballed for years and revived in 2013. It was the first distillery in Scotland to use gas fired direct heating.

It was drawn off the stills for a clean, fruity Speyside spirit, building a light, fruity character of green apple and pear. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the fruit. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending maple and dried fig as beeswax and a tropical fruit linger. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. Built for the blender's art, the spirit ages with grace as a single malt. The clean, fruity make takes cask flavour well while keeping its apple and pear. Its first permanent single malt was released in 2017, the Distillery Edition.

At a natural 53.6% it is full and fruity. Green apple, honey and a soft malt, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked apple and a gentle spice lift it. The finish is rounded, fruity and clean. This is a Speyside single malt of real lightness.