Glen Spey 10 Years Old 2010 Cask #804794 + 804799 (Signatory)

A 10 year old Glen Spey from Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2010, from cask 804794 + 804799, at 46%. Glen Spey is a Speyside single malt, most of it long destined for the blender's vat. It passed to the London gin house W and A Gilbey in 1887, the first English firm to own a Scottish distillery. Its water is the Doonie Burn, a source it shares with its Rothes neighbours. It was founded in 1878 by the grain merchant James Stuart, who added stills to an old oatmeal mill.

Drawn off after a ferment of two to three days, the purifiers paring it back to a light, grassy core. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the malt. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the hay softening towards a nutty honey. Built for the blender's art, the light make ages with quiet grace as a single malt. Years in oak round the spirit, the fresh notes deepening towards a nutty honey and orchard fruit.

Bottled at 46%, it is light and rounded. A delicate, fruity malt with a waxy edge, with a light oak sweetness. A light orchard fruit and a soft oak give it shape. The close is light and clean, grass over a gentle oak. This is a Speyside single malt of real lightness.