Glenesk 24 Years Old 1983 Cask #4930 (Duncan Taylor)

A 24 year old Glenesk from Duncan Taylor, distilled in 1983, from cask 4930, at 52.1%, one of 540 bottles. Glenesk is a closed Highland single malt, its bottlings now rare and sought by collectors. Drum maltings added in 1968 outlived the distillery and are working still. It passed to DCL in 1954 and to Scottish Malt Distillers in 1964, ending its days within Diageo. Much of its make went to blends, above all William Sanderson's Vat 69.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated malt, for a clean, lightly fruity spirit with a malty backbone. Maturation came in an Oloroso cask, layered over the light Glenesk make. In the oxidative, evaporative years the spirit concentrates to tropical fruit, honey and a waxy depth. With the distillery long closed, these are casks that can never be filled again. Active wood frames the malt without ever crowding the light Highland spirit.

At a natural 52.1% it is full and creamy. A honeyed, malty sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft pear and a light honey sit behind the cask. The finish runs clean, dry and lightly malty. This is the quiet, malty malt of Montrose.