Glen Spey 12 Years Old 2010 Cask #804712 (James Eadie)

James Eadie bottled this Glen Spey, a 12 year old, distilled in 2010, from cask 804712, at 55.9%, one of 270 bottles. Glen Spey is a light, fragrant Speyside malt of fresh grass and a nutty malt. It was founded in 1878 by the grain merchant James Stuart, who added stills to an old oatmeal mill. When the firm merged with Justerini and Brooks, Glen Spey became a key malt in the J and B blend.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated malt, the purifiers paring it back to a light, grassy core. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the spirit lead. 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. Maturation in the racked warehouses is slow and even, the Speyside air cool and steady.

Bottled at a cask strength 55.9%, it is concentrated. A clean, grassy sweetness with a nutty thread, with a light oak sweetness. Beneath it run fresh grass, light fruit and a nutty malt. The finish runs delicate, grassy and dry. This is a light, nutty Speyside single malt.