Glen Spey 12 Years Old 2009 Cask #Batch 21/051 (Connoisseurs Choice)

A 12 year old Glen Spey from Gordon and MacPhail, distilled in 2009, from cask Batch 21/051, at 45%, one of 3500 bottles. Glen Spey is a Speyside single malt, one of five distilleries in the town of Rothes. 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.

Distilled from unpeated malt, building a light, fragrant spirit with a thread of nuttiness. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin lending vanilla under the light fruit. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the grassy spirit growing rounder and a touch waxy. Long ageing turns the green, herbal edge towards orchard fruit, honey and a gentle spice. Built for the blender's art, the light make ages with quiet grace as a single malt. Because the purifiers keep the spirit light, the cask shows clearly through the years.

At 45% it is grassy, nutty and soft. Pear, cereal and a green, grassy lift, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Pear, hay and a creamy vanilla fill the middle. A fresh finish closes on a nutty malt and a soft oak. This is a light, grassy Speyside single malt.