Glen Spey 9 Years Old 2015 100 Proof Edition #37 (Signatory)

Signatory Vintage bottled this Glen Spey, a 9 year old, distilled in 2015, at 57.1%. Glen Spey is a Speyside single malt, one of five distilleries in the town of Rothes. The distillery is said to be watched over by the ghost of a soldier who died on the site. Its stills were doubled from two to four in the 1970 expansion, the make still light and grassy. It passed to the London gin house W and A Gilbey in 1887, the first English firm to own a Scottish distillery. Most of its spirit goes to blends; single malt Glen Spey is rare, and largely the work of independents.

Run slowly off the four copper stills, the purifiers paring it back to a light, grassy core. Finished in an Oloroso cask, the wood building on the light spirit. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and lactones a coconut, the spirit fresh, light and faintly nutty. Long ageing turns the green, herbal edge towards orchard fruit, honey and a gentle spice.

At a hearty 57.1% it carries real weight. Fresh grass, pear and a creamy almond, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath it run fresh grass, light fruit and a nutty malt. The finish runs delicate, grassy and dry. This is a light, nutty Speyside single malt.