Speyside Distillery 1999 (Old Particular)

This Speyside Distillery malt was from the independent bottler Douglas Laing, a 21 year old release from 1999, drawn from cask DL 13901 and bottled at 51.5%. Only 244 bottles were released. The Speyside Distillery was built by hand on a former barley mill site at Tromie Mills, the most southerly Speyside distillery; it gave the screen distillery Lagganmore in Monarch of the Glen. The first single malt, Drumguish, appeared in 1993, three years after the first spirit ran.

Distilled on River Tromie water in a tiny pair of pot stills, building the gentle Speyside style it is loved for. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending honey and vanilla. At this age it is rounded and full, the fruit folded into a honeyed, waxy body. The short stills give body, which slow running and a clean cut keep light. The distillery played the fictional Lagganmore in the BBC series Monarch of the Glen.

At its natural 51.5% it is concentrated. Green apple and a gentle spice sit alongside soft vanilla and honey from the cask. 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.