Whisky: Glen Keith 28 Year (1993), Hunter Laing for K&L

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 56.9%

Cask: Refill Bourbon Barrel

Age: 28 Year (Distilled Jan. 1993, Bottled Mar. 2021)

Nose: Cereal grains, florals, and musty attic crawlspaces. Subtle and complex with roasted barley, mandarin oranges, cracked black pepper, a dash of white pepper funk, and dried mango. Memories of a musty attic full of antique furniture, cobwebs, and old linens.

Palate: Medium-bodied with bright, clean notes of preserved fruit, wood, and subtle spice. Cereal notes of barley sugars and streusel opened to a fruity wave of tinned fruit salad, candied citrus peel, and hints of balsamic vinegar. Freeze-dried strawberries faded to reveal varnished antiques, polished wooden banisters, and mellow cream. Memories of a passionfruit pudding with vanilla cream Anglaise lingered at the end.

Finish: Lingering preserved fruits and subtle oak spice.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Summer Fruit Salad at Downton Abbey

Notes: A cracking introduction to Glen Keith, this mature malt featured beautiful layers of preserved and candied fruits balanced nicely against woody antiques. The aroma was subtle, belying the crisp fruitiness on the palate.  

The nose left me sifting through memories of attic crawl spaces and unsanctioned exploration through dusty and musty family antiques. After such a dusty nostalgia, I had no idea what to expect on the palate. I certainly did not expect the flavor profile to pop with so much initial fruit and end with a gentle creaminess. It felt old-fashioned, and the lingering notes of oak that crossed from the nose to the palate brought to mind old drawing rooms and libraries in the evening— the scent of warming wood taking to the air.

Overall, though Chivas is not my favorite mass-market blend, the portfolio of distilleries controlled by Chivas Brothers are some of my absolute favorites. I thought this Glen Keith was fantastic, and I cannot wait to try more.

Image Credit: Whiskybase