Speyside Distillery 1997 (MoM)

From Master of Malt comes this Speyside Distillery single malt, an 18 year old release from 1997, drawn from cask 604 and bottled at 56.1%. A release of 256 bottles. The Speyside Distillery was raised single handed by a drystone mason over some twenty years on a former mill site by the River Tromie, and it has made the SPEY and Beinn Dubh malts for the Harvey's family. It stood in for the fictional Lagganmore in the BBC series Monarch of the Glen.

It was drawn off short stills coaxed by hand towards a delicate make, for a clean, honeyed spirit of real finesse. Maturation in a sherry cask laid dried fruit over the light malt. Long ageing brings a deeper dried fruit character and a mellow oak spice. The cool upper Spey climate gives a slow, even maturation over the years.

At 56.1%, undiluted, it is deep and honeyed. The Oloroso brings dried fruit, fig and a nutty depth, and the refill oak lending honey and vanilla runs under a clean, honeyed fruitiness. A dried fruit and a gentle oak spice give it depth. A long, honeyed finish carries a fruity lift. This is a delicate Speysider from the upper Spey.