Glen Spey 12 Years Old 2013 Cask #MoS 25012 (Malts of Scotland)

A Glen Spey of a 12 year old chosen by Malts of Scotland, distilled in 2013, from cask MoS 25012, at 55.3%, a festival cask. Glen Spey is a Speyside single malt, owned by the London gin house Gilbey from 1887. It is one of five distilleries in the whisky town of Rothes, in the heart of Speyside. It sits below the ruins of Castle Rothes, once the seat of the Earls of Rothes. Most of its spirit goes to blends; single malt Glen Spey is rare, and largely the work of independents.

Distilled from unpeated malt, for a fine, clean malt the blenders have long prized. Finished in an Oloroso cask, the wood building on the light spirit. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the hay softening towards a nutty honey. Because the purifiers keep the spirit light, the cask shows clearly through the years. Long ageing turns the green, herbal edge towards orchard fruit, honey and a gentle spice.

At a hearty 55.3% it carries real weight. Pear, cereal and a green, grassy lift, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft meadow grass and a nutty malt sit behind the cask. The finish is rounded, nutty and clean. This is the delicate, grassy malt of Rothes.