Glen Keith 30 Years Old 1994 JD’s Personal Choice No. 9 (Sansibar)

This Glen Keith was bottled by Sansibar, a 30 year old, distilled in 1994, bottled at 53%, one of 110 bottles. Glen Keith is a Speyside single malt made behind Strathisla, mostly for the Chivas blends. Its first permanent single malt was released in 2017, the Distillery Edition.

Run through the tall stills on Balloch Hill water for a light make, for the light, fruity make Glen Keith is known for. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the light spirit. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending maple and dried fig as beeswax and a tropical fruit linger. The light, fruity spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit to the fore. Its make went largely into the Chivas Regal, Passport and 100 Pipers blends. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation in the Glen Keith warehouses. It was the first distillery in Scotland to use gas fired direct heating.

At a natural 53% it is full and fruity. Green apple, pear and a soft malt, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked apple and a gentle spice lift it. A fresh finish ends on apple and a soft oak. This is a light, fruity Speyside single malt.