Speyside Distillery 1998 (Authentic Collection)

From Cadenhead's comes this Speyside Distillery single malt, a 19 year old Speyside malt from 1998 and bottled at 49.4%. The outturn was 252 bottles. Raised single handed by a drystone mason over some twenty years on a former mill site by the River Tromie, the Speyside Distillery is one of Scotland's smallest. 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. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the fruit. 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. Set in the Cairngorm foothills, it counts among Scotland's prettiest distilleries. Harvey's whisky heritage runs back to 1770 and the founding of Bruichladdich.

At a full 49.4% it is intense yet fruity. The refill oak lending honey and vanilla runs under a clean, honeyed fruitiness. A dried fruit and a gentle oak spice give it depth. The finish runs fresh, soft and fragrant. This is a delicate Speysider from the upper Spey.