Glen Keith 10 years old Version Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 100 cl 43%

A litre bottle. That alone tells you where this whisky comes from — the big 100 cl bottles were something you bought in duty free or on export markets, and they largely vanished from shelves in Europe. The label reads The Pool of the Salmon.

Please note: There is wear to the box.

The expert's description

Glen Keith 10 Year Old Old Version is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Keith in Speyside, bottled at 43% in a litre bottle.

This is an official distillery bottling from the years when Glen Keith still ran under Seagram. The subtitle The Pool of the Salmon appeared on the distillery’s older labels, and the bottling was withdrawn long before Glen Keith gained its current series of single malts. The Highland regional wording on the label was standard practice then, even for distilleries sitting in the middle of Speyside.

Glen Keith was built in 1957 and 1958 on the site of an old meal mill directly behind Strathisla. Seagram used the distillery as its experimental plant, trialling triple distillation, different yeast strains and gas firing. Production was mothballed in 1999, and fourteen years passed before Chivas Brothers started it up again.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt and dried apple, with heather honey and a dry, almost floury cereal note. Behind it sits a faint waxiness that points to the age of the bottle.

Palate

Slender but firm. Barley, pear and pale caramel, with a dryness mid-palate. There is more body than 43% suggests, and an old-fashioned malty style modern Speyside rarely shows.

Finish

Medium. Dried fruit, malt and a dry oak note closing quietly.

Specifications

Name: Glen Keith 10 Year Old Old Version Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 100 cl 43%
Distillery: Glen Keith
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 100 CL
Edition: Old Version - The Pool of the Salmon
EAN no.: 087000653177

Flavour profile

Malty · Dry · Honeyed · Waxy

Investment potential

Medium. Glen Keith stood still for fourteen years, and the official bottlings from before 1999 cannot be recreated. A litre bottle carrying the old label wording is therefore one collectors keep an eye on — particularly since the distillery's modern releases only returned to the market in 2017.

Did you know?

Glen Keith was the first Scottish distillery to fire its pot stills with gas rather than coal. Seagram used the site as its testing ground, and if something new was to be tried, it was usually tried in Keith first.

See our full range of Glen Keith

Frequently asked questions about Glen Keith 10 Year Old Old Version

Is it worth the money?

Judge it on what cannot be made again. Glen Keith closed in 1999 and stayed closed for fourteen years, so an official 10 year old from before that period exists in a fixed, shrinking number. Add the litre bottle and the old label wording the distillery has not returned to.

Why is the bottle 100 cl?

Because litre bottles were standard on export and duty free markets, where distilleries could sell larger volumes. On the European home market 70 cl became the norm, and the litre bottle therefore largely disappeared from ordinary retail shelves.

What does The Pool of the Salmon mean?

It is a subtitle that appeared on Glen Keith's older labels. The distillery sits by the River Isla in Keith and the name ties to the place — but it is not a designation the distillery uses on its current releases.

Why does it say Highland on a Speyside whisky?

Because it was common to gather all of north-east Scotland under the Highland heading on labels. Keith sits in the middle of Speyside, but on paper it was called Highland. You can see the other Scottish regions in our Scotch Whisky selection.

What happened to Glen Keith between 1999 and 2013?

The distillery was mothballed, and over the following years parts were taken from it to keep other distilleries running. When Chivas Brothers decided to reopen in 2013, it was in practice a new plant built inside the old buildings.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat and with time. Old bottlings need air — give it fifteen minutes in the glass before you judge it. At 43% water is rarely necessary.

How should I store the bottle?

Upright, dark and cool. On older bottles the cork is the weak point, so watch for it drying out. A litre bottle is heavier than a standard one, so make sure it stands securely.