Glen Spey 11 Years Old 2010 Cask #804713 (James Eadie)

An 11 year old Glen Spey from James Eadie, distilled in 2010, from cask 804713, at 57.4%, one of 323 bottles. Glen Spey is a Speyside single malt, long a quiet backbone of the J and B blend. Under Gilbey it took the Glen Spey name and supplied the house Spey Royal blend. It is one of five distilleries in the whisky town of Rothes, in the heart of Speyside. Most of its spirit goes to blends; single malt Glen Spey is rare, and largely the work of independents.

It was distilled in tall onion shaped stills, building a light, fragrant spirit with a thread of nuttiness. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the malt. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the grassy spirit growing rounder and a touch waxy. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the delicate Speyside spirit. Built for the blender's art, the light make ages with quiet grace as a single malt.

At 57.4%, undiluted, it is deep and waxy. A delicate, fruity malt with a waxy edge, over a gentle, creamy oak. Beneath it run fresh grass, light fruit and a nutty malt. The close is light and clean, grass over a gentle oak. This is a fresh, fragrant Speyside single malt.