Glen Spey 12 Years Old

An official release of Glen Spey, a 12 year old, at 43%. Glen Spey is a Speyside single malt from Rothes, founded in 1878 as the Mill of Rothes. Most of its spirit goes to blends; single malt Glen Spey is rare, and largely the work of independents. The distillery is said to be watched over by the ghost of a soldier who died on the site.

The spirit was distilled in tall onion shaped stills, shaping a light body with a soft, waxy edge. 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. Maturation in the racked warehouses is slow and even, the Speyside air cool and steady. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Built for the blender's art, the light make ages with quiet grace as a single malt.

Reduced to 43%, it is mellow and delicate. A clean, grassy sweetness with a nutty thread, over a gentle, creamy oak. A light orchard fruit and a soft oak give it shape. A long, grassy finish carries a light fruit and a nutty malt. This is a fresh, fragrant Speyside single malt.