Glen Spey 14 Years Old 2006 Cask #2105-800379 (Claxton’s)

A Glen Spey of a 14 year old chosen by Claxton's, distilled in 2006, from cask 2105-800379, at 58.2%, one of 279 bottles. Glen Spey is a Speyside single malt whose purifier stills give a light, grassy spirit. Its stills were doubled from two to four in the 1970 expansion, the make still light and grassy. When the firm merged with Justerini and Brooks, Glen Spey became a key malt in the J and B blend.

Distilled in tall onion shaped stills, shaping a light body with a soft, waxy edge. It was matured in a Madeira cask, the wood working into the light malt. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the grassy spirit growing rounder and a touch waxy. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the delicate Speyside spirit. 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.

At a natural 58.2% it is full and nutty. Green apple, hay and a soft cereal, with a nutty, raisined sweetness from the cask. Beneath it run fresh grass, light fruit and a nutty malt. The finish is light, grassy and clean. This is the delicate, grassy malt of Rothes.