Spirit of Speyside 10 Year Old Festival 2013

Feis Ile, the whisky festival on Islay, is world famous and attracts thousands of visitors every year. Lesser known, but equally fun (I have been told) is the Spirit of Speyside Festival. For the 2013 edition, this blend was composed of no less than 28 Speyside Malts.

Lovely fruity nose, which does not really come as a surprise. Baked apples, green banana, pineapple. Some sand biscuits and sweet malt. Bit of candied sugar. Very sweet and rather innocent, but good nonetheless.

On the palate is is very sweet. Honeysweet, even. Very spicy too. Black pepper and cloves on toasted oak. The fruit is a warm marmalade of all kinds of white and yellow fruit. Violets, too. Potpourri, so to speak. Nice, spicy mix and sturdy despite the modest ABV.

The finish is surprisingly long, creamy and spicy.

This blended malt absolutely does not shame its festival. Thanks, Jan!