Glen Spey 10 Years Old 2015 Cask #801397 (UD – bottler)

UD - bottler bottled this Glen Spey, a 10 year old, distilled in 2015, from cask 801397, at 52.3%, one of 219 bottles. Glen Spey is a Speyside single malt whose purifier stills give a light, grassy spirit. It was founded in 1878 by the grain merchant James Stuart, who added stills to an old oatmeal mill. It passed to the London gin house W and A Gilbey in 1887, the first English firm to own a Scottish distillery.

The spirit was run slowly off the four copper stills, building a light, fragrant spirit with a thread of nuttiness. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the fresh spirit. Through integration the spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend a riper orchard fruit over the nutty malt. Years in oak round the spirit, the fresh notes deepening towards a nutty honey and orchard fruit. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

Bottled at a cask strength 52.3%, it is concentrated. Pear, cereal and a green, grassy lift, over a gentle, creamy oak. A light orchard fruit and a soft oak give it shape. The finish runs delicate, grassy and dry. This is a grassy Speyside malt of real delicacy.