Glenesk 30 Years Old 1971 (Silver Seal)

This Glenesk was bottled by Silver Seal, a 30 year old, distilled in 1971, at 49%, one of 220 bottles. Glenesk was a Highland single malt distilled at Montrose, in the valley of the Esk. It was rebuilt as a grain distillery from 1938, working a continuous Coffey still for over two decades. It was one of four malt distilleries in the Esk valley, of which only neighbouring Glencadam still runs.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated malt, building a soft malt of honey, cereal and orchard fruit. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a soft honey over the orchard fruit. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending honey and dried fig as beeswax and a waxy note linger. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the malt. The light, malty spirit deepened with time, the cask drawing out a soft honey. First fill wood drove the maturation, the cask clear in the light spirit.

At 49%, undiluted, it is rich and fruity. Pear, barley and a soft oak, lifted by a soft oak. It is malty and clean, the honeyed spirit shining through. The finish runs clean, dry and lightly malty. This is a collector's Highland single malt.