Glenesk 31 Years Old 1984 Cask #4677 (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd.)

This Glenesk comes from The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd, the Glasgow bottler founded by Brian Crook in 1992, a 31 year old, distilled in 1984, from cask 4677, at 49.5%, one of 240 bottles. Glenesk was a Highland single malt, most of it long destined for the blending vats. It returned to malt whisky in 1964, with two pairs of pot stills, under the name Hillside.

Worked unhurried through the stillhouse, for a light, honeyed make with a cereal edge. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the fresh, fruity character to the fore. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending honey and dried fig as beeswax and a waxy note linger. A light, gently oily texture from the spirit carries through the maturation. The light, malty spirit deepened with time, the cask drawing out a soft honey. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the malt.

Bottled at a cask strength 49.5%, it is concentrated. Pear, barley and a soft oak, lifted by a soft oak. Honey, barley and a soft oak fill the middle. The close is light and clean, malt over a gentle oak. This is a gentle, honeyed Highland single malt.