Glen Spey 12 Years Old 2010 Cask #9518 (Whiskymax)

A 12 year old Glen Spey from Whiskymax, distilled in 2010, from cask 9518, at 49.5%, one of 246 bottles. Glen Spey is a Speyside single malt, most of it long destined for the blender's vat. Under Gilbey it took the Glen Spey name and supplied the house Spey Royal blend. When the firm merged with Justerini and Brooks, Glen Spey became a key malt in the J and B blend.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, the purifiers paring it back to a light, grassy core. A Port cask held it, drawing the light spirit deeper over the years. Through integration the spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend a riper orchard fruit over the nutty malt. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the delicate Speyside spirit. Years in oak round the spirit, the fresh notes deepening towards a nutty honey and orchard fruit.

At a hearty 49.5% it carries real weight. A light meadow grass and orchard fruit, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. The body is light and clean, the fruit lifted by a gentle oak. Green apple, grass and a soft oak see it out. This is a fresh, fragrant Speyside single malt.