On choosing a distillery for me to try, my GF found that it was time for me to try Glen Spey Distillery, more or less because she likes green bottles. So, therefore I'll have a go at three Glen Spey's in this session, of which two comes from green Cadenhead decanters. It's a bit of fun to see what the no-whisky drinkers make their decisions on when choosing for me what to taste. Funny names and nice decanters, I think there's also connoisseurs who have been lured into a whisky or two by similar features.
http://www.singlemaltsdirect.com/laughfrog-miniature.html
http://privilegedclub.com/183596-diamond-jubilee-whisky-by-john-walker-sons/
Glen Spey then, still a malt that I, and many others I think, is yet to come around to. Not many bottlings readily available out there, and a whisky which's reputation makes it appear a middle of the road whisky. Here we go!
Glen Spey 13yo 1995-2008 43% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
No added color on this baby. White wine. It smells fresh and minty, rhubarb, parsley, herbal, honey, fresh. Nice one so far. The taste is sweet and peppery, custard, mustard seeds, vanilla, banana, apricots. A bit easy, some water might help. It's still a sweet and peppery whisky, which has no flaws. But it lacks a finish, and all in all it comes off a bit light and simple.
A summers day dram: 4.5
Glen Spey 13yo 1985-1999 60.9% Cadenhead's
From a sherry butt. Amber orange color. High strength like this usually calls for water, but I'll try it bare first. It smells sulphury, syrup, chili, dried paprika, nuts, dark chocolate. The taste is very oaky, sulphur, cherries, blackberries, sour berries, drying, unripe apples, some nice sour notes in this one. Water added. Now it turns more peppery, rubber, ginger, bitter, banana peel, lime peel, green grapes. This is a very good young sherried CS. A bit of Aberlour A'bunadh-style here. Heavy sherry.
A young whisky that lets the wood shine: 7
Glen Spey 15yo 1981-1996 61.9% Cadenhead's
An older bottling, but this one is matured in a bourbon cask, which usually is not as tight as a european cask, which the 1985 was. Seeing these strength, the age difference and wood difference makes me assume that the initial new-make %abv strength was higher in this whisky. But thats just my opinion and may not be right. The color is white wine. It smells sweet, creamy, bourbon, olive oil, orange marmalade, nuts, fried bacon, banana, yoghurt, sour cream. The taste is green apples, wheat, hay, tonic water, warm milk, onion stew. With added water, the onion sensation is coming on even more now, but it also enhances the bitterness, spirity notes and other undesired elements.
Many layers in this whisky, one for the experienced taster: 6.5
Next tasting: My brother chooses another Speysider/Highlander for me.
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