Speyside 25 Years Old 1998 Cask #C24109 (Claxton’s)

Single malt from the Speyside Distillery, an independent Claxton's bottling matured to 25 year old from 1998, drawn from cask C24109 and bottled at 53.8%. Only 65 bottles were released. The Speyside Distillery, built by hand on a former barley mill site at Tromie Mills, the most southerly Speyside distillery, is the source of the SPEY malts. The SPEY range and the dark Beinn Dubh are bottled by Harvey's of Edinburgh.

Distilled on River Tromie water in a tiny pair of pot stills, building the gentle Speyside style it is loved for. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Decades leave it deep and mellow, honeyed wax and dried fruit with a soft spice. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the honeyed, fruity core over time. Quality over quantity has always been the watchword of this tiny distillery. George Christie bought the land in 1956, dreaming of his own small malt distillery.

At a natural 53.8% it is full and fruity. The Oloroso brings dried fruit, fig and a nutty depth, and fragrant honey and ripe fruit meet soft vanilla and honey from the cask. Soft orchard fruit and vanilla sit behind the sweetness. A fruity, gently spiced finish lingers. This is a gentle, honeyed Speyside malt.