Speyside Distillery 1997 WIN First Cask Air Leth (Whisky Import Nederland)

This Speyside Distillery malt was from the independent bottler Whisky Import Nederland, a 17 year old Speyside malt from 1997 and bottled at 52.4%. The Speyside Distillery was hand built over two decades by the stonemason Alex Fairlie in the Cairngorm foothills near Kingussie; it is one of the smallest and most picturesque distilleries in Scotland. The first single malt, Drumguish, appeared in 1993, three years after the first spirit ran.

The spirit was run slow through small copper stills for a light, fruity spirit, to build a fresh, orchard fruit character. Ex-Bourbon casks held the spirit, soft oak that lets the fruit lead. At this age it is rounded and full, the fruit folded into a honeyed, waxy body. A long fermentation and slow distillation in the short stills are managed by hand to keep the spirit light and fruity.

At cask strength 52.4% it is full bodied. Green apple and a gentle spice sit alongside a quiet vanilla from the refill oak. It is fresh and clean, the fruity spirit shining through. Apple, honey and oak draw out the close. This is the SPEY single malt from near Kingussie.