Glen Spey 21 years old (D.1989 B.2010) / 50,4% / – In 1878 James Stewart built Mill of Rothes Distillery right next to Glenrothes. Nine years later the distillery was purchased by the British gin producers W. & A. Gilbey and changed name to Glen Spey. Glen Spey malt has been closely associated with J&B blends and just a fraction is bottled as single malt. The 21 years old expression was part of 2010 Diageo Special Releases. It is a vatting of new white American oak casks “that had also held sherry”. Bottled at natural strength of 50.4% abv with an outrun of 5844 bottles Glen Spey 21 years old is a third official bottling in the 21st Century (after Flora & Fauna and Manager’s Choice).
Nose: very rich, vanilla, coconut, oranges, ripe plums, pears and apricots, almonds, marzipan, hints of cinnamon and cocoa and just a touch of oak.
Palate: fruity and slightly oily, apples, pears, apricots, traces of bananas, vanilla, coconut, honey, butterscotch, cinnamon, dash of pepper and oak.
Finish: fairly long, lots of orchard fruits, chocolate, hints of mint and charred oak.
