The Speysiders 2010 MM (Murray McDavid)

The Speysiders 2010 MM (Murray McDavid) is an 11 year old blended malt Scotch from Murray McDavid. It marries malts with Glen Spey lending a light, grassy Speyside note. It sits below the ruins of Castle Rothes, once the seat of the Earls of Rothes. Most of its spirit goes to blends; single malt Glen Spey is rare, and largely the work of independents. It was bottled as a single malt in Diageo's Flora and Fauna range in 2001, one of its rare official outings. Its stills were doubled from two to four in the 1970 expansion, the make still light and grassy. Its water is the Doonie Burn, a source it shares with its Rothes neighbours.

The Glen Spey within gives fresh grass and a soft nutty malt. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin lending vanilla under the light fruit. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the delicate Speyside spirit. Because the purifiers keep the spirit light, the cask shows clearly through the years.

At 46% it is grassy, nutty and soft. Fresh grass, light fruit and a nutty malt run through it. A light orchard fruit and a soft oak give it shape. The close is light and clean, grass over a gentle oak. A characterful blended malt Scotch.