Glen Keith 1992 Review KIW

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland - Speyside

Brand: Glen Keith 1992 Single Cask Collection (KIW - Kintra Whisky)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 19 Years

ABV: 53.8%

Colour: Gold

Nose: Sweet like Fruit-Filled French Flaky Butter Pastry (Papaya, Peach, Pineapple, Nectarine and Apple). Sweet Cereals, Vanilla, Sugared Orange Peels, Grass/Straw, Honey, Oak, a hint of Latte Macchiato, a sprinkle of Pepper and Cinnamon and a touch of Bourbon. Not overly complex - but sufficiently interesting Nose.

Palate: Sweet and Spicy with Pineapple, Plums, Lemon, Pepper, Ginger, light Licorice, Oak, Vanilla, Sweet Grains and Bitter Chocolate.

Finish: Short with Apple, Vanilla, Pepper, Oak, Licorice, Cocoa Powder and Dark Chocolate. 

I added a bit of Water and that reinforces the Fruit, Butter and Honey on the Nose. But Palate and Finish suffer so better sip the Glen Keith neat.

Rating: 84.5

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21

General Remarks: This Glen Keith was distilled in October 1992 and bottled at Cask Strength by Independent Bottler Kintra Whisky (Deventer, the Netherlands) in July 2012. It matured in an Ex-Bourbon Hogshead with Cask # 120587 out of which 156 bottles were reserved by Kintra. The whisky is non-chillfiltered and non-coloured. It costs around 110 US Dollars but I'm not sure if it's still available.

The relatively new Glen Keith distillery is located in Keith (Moray), very close to the very old Strathisla Distillery. The construction of Glen Keith was completed in 1960. The whisky was mostly used in Blends like Chival Regal, Passport and 100 Pipers. That's why you find quite a lot of IB Single-Malt expressions around. The Distillery was mothballed in 1999 but was bought in 2001 by Pernod-Ricard. Since 2012, it is being reconstructed and chances are it will open up in 2013.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good.

Conclusion: Good all round Speysider with Fruit, Honey, Pastry, Vanilla and Spices. Wood and Alcohol are well incorporated. Quite expensive though!

Jan van den Ende                                                                    May 26, 2013