Speyside Malt Whisky
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Speyside has the greatest number of working distilleries in Scotland, and its own broad styles. Neither too heavy nor too light, able to satisfy most palates.
Strathspey is the area around the strath of the River Spey, Scotland, in both the Moray council area and the Badenoch and Strathspey committee area of Highland.
It is also one of the main centres of the Scotch Whisky industry, with a high concentration of Single Malt distilleries in the region, including the Glenfiddich distillery and the Balvenie distillery.
One of the wonderful things about Malt Whisky is the almost infinite number of flavours and sensations contained in all the different bottlings. And although most producers try very hard, for example, to make sure their standard flagship 12 year old is the same time after time, it can still have variations due in large part to the casking.
I remember a bottling of Royal Brackla by the independents Murray McDavid, which had a distinctly creamy and “baby sick!” nose and palate! It was exquisite. But the next bottling – other casks you see – was completely different, reverting to a broader flavour profile, still slightly sweet but with a dry finish.
A very recent addition to our range of Speyside malts is a single 70 year old Mortlach, one of the World’s oldest bottled Single Malt Whiskies; one of only 54 70cl hand-blown decanters filled at cask strength, ours is bottle number 9! We have also acquired one of only 162 20cl decanters, also number 9. This is a fabulous whisky in more ways than price. It is extremely rare; it is very old; it is from one of the top distilleries; its style and flavour profile are quite different from the post-war distillations.
I was very privileged indeed to be present, with a select few from the world of Malt Whisky, at its presentation and launch (I also got to taste it and my tasting notes will follow) in the very fitting setting of the Queen Anne room of Edinburgh Castle. For me it was very emotional to be a guest of the Urquhart Family and to be present at this historic occasion, when one of these precious bottles was piped into the room escorted by guards from THE HIGHLANDERS (4th Battalion).
The whisky was sublime. One really has to say, Chinese style, seventy years young! Not old. There was a vibrancy to it with lots of nuanced notes: it was regal, dry and rich, hints of waxed wood, coconut licor, Sicilian marzipan, tendrils of smoke – ever so slight but very present – lit tobacco and dark chocolate shavings. The length was sublime, many of the bouquet notes transferring to the palate, splendid balance, with all the flavours being transported around the mouth by essential oils. Not so much citrusy but citrus essential oils. A truly magnificent and regal Malt Whisky.
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