Glen Spey 15 Years Old 1992 Cask #927175 (James MacArthur)

This Glen Spey was bottled by James MacArthur, a 15 year old, distilled in 1992, from cask 927175, at 53%. Glen Spey is a Speyside single malt, most of it long destined for the blender's vat. Its water is the Doonie Burn, a source it shares with its Rothes neighbours. It was bottled as a single malt in Diageo's Flora and Fauna range in 2001, one of its rare official outings.

Distilled in tall onion shaped stills, giving the clean, nutty Speyside spirit Glen Spey is known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin lending vanilla under the light fruit. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the green grass turning to a nutty honey and soft tropical fruit. Because the purifiers keep the spirit light, the cask shows clearly through the years. A light oiliness carries a waxy thread through the long, slow maturation. Years in oak round the spirit, the fresh notes deepening towards a nutty honey and orchard fruit.

At 53%, undiluted, it is deep and waxy. Pear, cereal and a green, grassy lift, with a soft vanilla from the 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 Glen Spey's clean, nutty Speyside character.