Glen Spey 13 Years Old 1995 (Authentic Collection)

Chosen by Cadenhead, Scotland's oldest independent bottler, founded in Aberdeen in 1842 and now keeping house in Campbeltown, this a 13 year old Glen Spey, distilled in 1995, at 58.8%, one of 246 bottles. Glen Spey is a Speyside single malt, one of five distilleries in the town of Rothes. It passed to the London gin house W and A Gilbey in 1887, the first English firm to own a Scottish distillery. It was founded in 1878 by the grain merchant James Stuart, who added stills to an old oatmeal mill.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, giving the clean, nutty Speyside spirit Glen Spey is known for. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the fresh spirit. Through integration the spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend a riper orchard fruit over the nutty malt. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At its natural 58.8% it is rich and grassy. A delicate, fruity malt with a waxy edge, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run fresh grass, light fruit and a nutty malt. The close is light and clean, grass over a gentle oak. This is a light, nutty Speyside single malt.