
August 2, 2019

Little duos, today Glen Spey

Not the most famous malt ever, but any distillery can produce great casks, we all know that. Let’s see what we have… First, an aperitif at a lighter strength…

Glen Spey 2007/2019 (49.8%, Single Cask Seasons, refill sherry butt, cask #802147, 549 bottles)

This baby was bottled to celebrate Spring this year. We’re a little late, aren’t we… Colour: gold. Nose: perhaps a tad soapy at first, not something unseen with these makes, then rather all on barley, bread, apples, and lamp oil. These little whiskies purely made for blending are rarely nosing whiskies, in my opinion, but the palates can be pretty superlative. Let’s check that out… Mouth: maybe not superlative, but there are mysterious flavours here, such as hints of burnt Swiss cheese (the end of a fondue, if you will), green pears, very strong beer (remember Brewdog’s cold-distilled beer? Almost a weapon of mass destruction, thank God they made very little of it, and thank God no one ever told Colin P. and Dick C.) Also Ovaltine, energy bars, toffee… It’s really good now. Finish: pretty long, as malty as, yeah, Ovaltine/Ovomaltine. Comments: one of those dichotomous little malt whiskies. Forgettable nose, pretty remarkable palate.
SGP:551 - 82 points.

Glen Spey-Glenlivet 16 yo 2001/2018 (54.7%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, hogshead, 288 bottles)

Rocket fuel? Colour: white wine. Nose: as austere and grassy as malt whisky can be. Mown lawn, sand, chalk, porridge, books, graphite oil, grist. With water: sour beers and grass juices, leak, carrot cake... You see! Mouth (neat): fruitier. Barley, apples, liquorice wood, aniseed. Totally naked, simple, pretty flawless malt whisky. It’s just not very, say, mindboggling. With water: what, brine? Sardines? Is that its response to water? Some LOL-whisky! Finish: pretty long and unexpectedly salty. Fish crackling? Let me check where the distillery’s located, I think I forgot… Indeed, it’s rather in the North of Speyside, near Glen Grant, so not ‘too far’ from the sea. Comments: fun whisky to entertain your guests, but don’t forget your pipette! You may skip the nosing part…
SGP:361 - 84 points.

Glen Spey 11 yo 2007/2018 (58.4%, James Eadie, PX cask finish, cask #805410)

It’s a PX finish, don’t we expect the worst? To me, using PX on whisky is like, say adding an electronic drumkit to some long-lost John Coltrane tapes. Anyhow, sorry, I'm just rambling on. Colour: amber apricot. Nose: it happens that sherry casks impart a rather nice earthiness, and that’s what’s happening here. Other than that, we’re rather finding crude chocolate (like 100%, really) and perhaps some mushrooms. Maybe not such a bad idea, those drumkits, ha… With water: do you know carbonnade flamande? Just asking… Mouth (neat): brutal and good! Caramel, orange liqueur, butterscotch, stout, pipe tobacco. What brand, that drumkit? With water: perhaps a little bitter now. The leafy/tannic part of PX coming out, perhaps. Finish: long, very much on stout, marmalade, and green pepper. Comments: I must make amend. A love supreme (bim bam ziing), a love supreme (bim bam ziing), a love supreme (bim bam ziing)…
SGP:561 - 84 points.

Check the index of all Glen Spey we've tasted so far