James Eadie Small Batch Glen Spey Tasting Notes

James Eadie Small Batch Glen Spey 10 year old ‘The Half Moon’ 46%

2x Re-charred Bourbon Hogsheads 801625 & 801626/ Dist:2011 Btl: 2022/ Tasted: Apr 2022

The nose opens with the soft, buttery oak, followed by grass, citrus, white fruit and hints of malt and barley. With time it becomes quite herbaceous with lime, greengage and a very slight spirit note.

The palate is fresh, citric and grassy with subtle gooseberry, greengage and barley. It’s a little edgy and raw on the middle with developing oily spirit and very subtle caramel oak notes. Short-ish, citric, grassy, herbaceous spirit finish.

James Eadie Single Cask Glen Spey 2007 (11year old) Pedro Ximinez  Finish 58.9%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead 805410/ 6 months finishing in First Fill Pedro Ximinez cask/ Dist: 2007 Btl: 2018/ Tasted: Nov 2018

The nose is very pruney and winey with burnt sugar, herbal treacle, molasses, dark toffee and burnt herbs. Slightly malty but the PX cask really dominates.

The palate has PX stamped all over it. Pruney and winey with burnt raisin, walnut, treacle and more treacle! Slightly herbal on the middle and did I mention the treacle?! Masked but subtly spiced finish with a touch of pepper, ginger and bitter chocolate.

Water makes very little difference to the nose, it’s still very sherried and very pruney! The palate is even sweeter (if that’s possible given all the treacle!) Quite malty with a juicy finish.

James Eadie Glen Spey 2007 (12 year old) Palo Cortado Finish 60%

22 months Fist Fill Palo Cortado Finish/ Cask: 805411/ Dist: Sept 2007  Btl: Feb 2020/ Tasted: Mar 2020

The nose is rich, nutty and gristy with sweet, dried apricot, grape, sultana, nutty honey and coffee/ toffee. It’s a real breakfast malt! Although the sherry cask is pretty dominant, the Glen Spey spirit character can be detected and it adds a subtle grassiness. Late, fragrant barley notes.

The palate is intense and powerful with the alcohol well contained. Grippy, slightly tannic and woody with dried grape, grilled nuts, coffee, toffee and spice. Masked finish but the lovely sweet dried fruit and spice lingers.

Water brings out orange, tangerine and barley on the nose. It lightens the sherry and allows more of the spirit character to appear. The palate is like the nose, lighter on the sherry although the roasted nut notes are still very noticeable. Still a little on the gritty and tannic side but it is still balanced. Longer, fruitier finish with green olives.

James Eadie Single Cask Glen Spey 2009 (12 year old) 56.8%

Cask 803748/ Dist 2209 Btl: 2021/ Tasted: Dec 2021

A very citric nose. Pure grapefruit, lime and tamarind. Hints of barley, violets, honey and vanilla follow. Late white liquorice, rye-like spice and an almost grainy nip (possibly the alcohol). Not quite as honeyed as some Glen Spey’s but it has a lovely natural character.

The palate opens with the edgy, slightly tannic oak and subdued honey and fruit. Tighter than a gnat’s chuff! Masked, bitter liquorice finish.

Water brings out barley and lessens the oak a little on the nose. The palate is still quite oaky with some burnt caramel notes now. Dilution really hasn’t brought out the fruit and probably enhanced the oak. Short and forgettable!

North Star Spirits Glen Spey Tasting Notes

Bourbon Hogshead/ Oloroso finish.

Dist Sept 2006 Btl: 2020/ Tasted: Nov 2020

Noticeable sherried dried fruit and treacle on the nose, but there is also some lovely, fragrant barley, malt and citrus. It becomes quite herbal as the sherry asserts itself, but the gritty minerality of the spirit stands up to it well.

Juicy, raisinated fruit on the palate. Distinct herbal oloroso with hints of honey, treacle, barley and minerals. The spirit comes through well on the middle. Long with plenty of punchy rye-like spice, cinnamon, pepper and toasty oak.

Water lessens the citrus and mineral notes but emphasises the fragrant barley. Likewise on the palate. It’s a little simpler and the spice intensity has lessened, so even though it’s approaching 60% abv I would be inclined to drink it neat.

Edition Spirits Glen Spey Tasting Notes

Edition Spirits ‘The First Editions’ Glen Spey 1990 (25 year old) 53.9%

Bourbon/ Dark Sherry Finish

Code: EDI0184/ HL12824/ Dist: Oct 1990 Btl: Sept 2016?/ Tasted: Oct 2016

A lovely, light and citric nose, which is a bit odd considering it’s been finished in Dark Sherry (whatever that is?). Plenty of lemon zest, malt biscuits and vanilla along with a touch of menthol, grass and mint choc-chip cookies! Aromatic and surprisingly malty with a late hint of roasted hazelnuts, but no sherry that I can see!

Full and elegant with sweet barley, granulated sugar, grass and citrus. It does darken on the middle as the malt and roasted hazelnut notes arrive, but again I would say these darker notes were sherry derived? Anyway it has a good citrus finish with a real lime tartness and lingering grass and pure barley. A stunning, breath-taking finish.

Edition Spirits ‘The First Editions’ Glen Spey 1992? (25 year old) 50.7%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: EDI0212/ HL13307

Dist: 1992? Btl: 2017/ Tasted: Mar 2017

Aromas of earthy and edgy dried fruit and barley. Quite herbal with a subtle balsamic note along with some almost manurey notes. Freshens a little as the citrus appears and with time hints of toffee’d oak and damp earth.

The palate is shows plenty of dark, mature, malty baked fruit and coffee. The malt really develops on the middle along with a touch of vanilla, barley and straw. Good, grippy finish with subtle citrus and mineral notes joined by some dark honey and coffee. A little drying but impressively mature.

Carn Mor Glen Spey Tasting Notes

Carn Mor Strictly Limited Glen Spey 2000 (16 year old) 46%

Bourbon Hogshead/ Dist: 2000 Btl: 2016/ Tasted: Apr 2016

Quite heavy and oily on the nose with a subtle perfumed/ floral note. Hints of white fruit, barley, herbs and toffee’d spice follow. The perfumed note becomes a little soapy with time and the herbal notes become a little raw and aggressive.

The palate is a little sweeter but still quite oily with more barley character and creamy oak. Possibly a little heavy on the oak but showing a better balance with toffee and toasty notes on the middle. Long and very herbal with a slightly rye-like demeanour. The finish is a tad bitter and dry.

Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask Glen Spey 1994 (23 year old) 60.7%

Sherry Hogshead 2137/ Dist: Jun 1994  Btl: Jun 2017/ Tasted: Aug 2017

A gentle, mature, Armagnac-esque nose of dried prune, plum and sweet cola. Slightly herbal with hints of cereal, dried grape, leather, vanilla and tobacco.

The displays plenty of dried apricot, orange and a touch of tea-like tannins along with vanilla and spice. Mouth-watering finish with lingering dried fruit and subtle, herbal Oloroso notes. I’m amazed that this is over 60% abv at this age!

A drop of water emphasises the orange/ tangerine and brings out a touch of Demerara sugar and vanilla. The palate is quite nutty now with subtler sherry character. Straightforward now with hints of marzipan in the finish.

Bartles Whisky Glen Spey Tasting Notes

Highland Laird Glen Spey 1988 (26 year old) 45.6%

Bourbon Hogshead

Dist: 1988 Btl: 2015/ Tasted: Aug 2015

A pungent and woody nose with mature coffee laced honey and hints of stewed fruit and herbs. With time a touch of treacle toffee and dark wood spices emerge.

The palate opens with the oxidised fruit which has a subtle baked character, followed by malt, treacle, liquorice and plenty of developing herbal notes. Lovely, crisp, mineral and lightly citric finish with lingering notes of old wood, coffee and malt. A lovely mature whisky!

Bartels Whisky Glen Spey Tasting Notes

Highland Laird Glen Spey 1988 (26 year old) 45.6%

Bourbon Hogshead

Dist: 1988 Btl: 2015/ Tasted: Aug 2015

A pungent and woody nose with mature coffee laced honey and hints of stewed fruit and herbs. With time a touch of treacle toffee and dark wood spices emerge.

The palate opens with the oxidised fruit which has a subtle baked character, followed by malt, treacle, liquorice and plenty of developing herbal notes. Lovely, crisp, mineral and lightly citric finish with lingering notes of old wood, coffee and malt. A lovely mature whisky!

Hunter Laing Glen Spey Tasting Notes

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Glen Spey 1997 (18 year old) 50%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OMC2455/ HL11192

Dist: Jan 1997 Btl: Jan 2015/ Tasted: Mar 2015

Lovely, fresh aromas of white fruit, honey and grass with hints of earth, manure and a touch of camphor. With time it becomes quite grainy and looses a bit of it’s fruit and honey but those aromas are replaced by meaty and malty notes.

The palate displays more straw-like white fruit with just a touch of honey. Not quite as exuberant as the nose and probably showing its age. However it has some pleasant barley’d character. Long and again quite grainy with a lightly peachy after-taste.

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Glen Spey 1997 (18 year old) 50%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OMC2461/ HL11239

Dist: Jan 1997 Btl: Feb 2015/ Tasted: Aug 2016

The aromas are quite herbal and rye-like with a slight feinty edge. Simple with hints of white liquorice and oily lemon.

The palate is slightly cardboardy with barley, citrus and a touch of vanilla. Simple with the cardboard returning on the finish along with some bittering oak and herbal notes. Light marzipan after-taste.

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Glen Spey 1997 (21 year old) 50%

Refill Sherry Hogshead/ Code: OMC2778/ HL15029

Dist: Jan 1997 Btl: Apr 2018/ Tasted: Jun 2018

A lovely, juicy and spicy nose of Armagnac-esque dried fruit. Hints of prune, walnut, dried black grape, coffee and decadent, ginger laced fruitcake. There’s a very subtle barley note but it’s a lovely, mature, sherry heavy nose.

The palate is rich and juicy with sweet, dried plum, prune and raisin. Hints of milky coffee, gingery tannins, cinnamon and barley follow. Actually the middle is very barley’d and honeyed with a lovely mature fruit middle. The grippy tannins shorten the finish a little, but the juicy fruit balances. Lovely caramelised orange and barley after-taste.

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Glen Spey 1990 (25 year old) 50%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead?/ Code: OMC2583/ HL12803

Dist: Oct 1990 Btl: Aug 2016 / Tasted: Oct 2016

The nose opens with a little smoky and dusty spice along with a touch of digestive biscuits. Surprisingly there is a little feinty, industrial hardness to the aromas, although a touch of sweet vanilla comes to the rescue.

The palate is thankfully cleaner and fuller with vanilla and grippy oak notes. Hints of white fruit, barley and honey follow. The oak bitters a little on the middle but some mouth-watering grapefruit appears as well. The finish is pretty citric with a Riesling-esque petrolly note and lingering barley, honey and vanilla.

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Glen Spey 1991 (25 year old) 50%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ OMC2648/ HL13306

Dist: Dec 1991 Btl: Feb 2017 / Tasted: Mar 2017

The nose oozes herbal barley, honey and subtle, but mature toasty oak. Hints of malt, white liquorice, straw, wheat biscuits and white fruit emerge. Wonderfully vibrant and balanced.

Quite full on the palate and lightly oiled with sweet and herbal barley, malt and subtle sweet oak. The light citrus note just about balances the sweetness and the oak asserts itself on the middle. Long and vibrant as the citrus finally defeats the oak and does make the ending a little austere. Hints of herbs, mature (but not dirty) rose petals, malt and earth come through on the finish.

---

Hunter Laing Hepburns Choice Glen Spey 2002 (11 year old) 46%

Code: HEP0038/ Dist: Aug 2002 Btl: June 2014/ Tasted: July 2014

Pungent and earthy aromas of straw-like marc. Very young. Barely out of it’s nappy with a light sweet-ish barley note.

The palate is earthy and oily with a touch of ‘off the still’ pungency. Short with some straw-like marc and white fruit.

Dewar Rattray Glen Spey Tasting Notes

Dewar Rattray ‘Cask Collection’ Glen Spey 2009 (10 year old) 58.3%

Bourbon Hogshead 804613/ Dist: Aug 2009 Btl: 27th Sept 2019/ Tasted: Feb 2020

The nose is quite oaky with vanilla ice cream and toffee. There is a touch of high toned white fruit, grass and it does settle down eventually to show citrus, greengage, barley and apricot fruit.

The palate is full and barley’d. Again there’s no shortage of toffee’d oak. Hints of grass, citrus and white fruit follow and the finish is pretty masked although some waxy fruit and oak notes linger.

A drop of water knocks back the oak and brings out the citrus and white fruit. Crisper and fresher now with white liquorice, lime and sugar coated tangerine. The palate now displays a burnt toffee and industrial barley character, which I wasn’t expecting given the nose. Still fairly waxy and oaky, but lacking the citric freshens of the nose. Longer but the lingering barley is definitely industrial. Late wood and pulped white fruit.

Dewar Rattray ‘Individual Cask Bottling’ Glen Spey 1991 (20 year old) 48.7%

Bourbon cask 800860/ Dist: 1991 Btl: 2012/ Tasted: Nov 2012

A high toned and grassy nose with some bubblegummy white fruits and citrus oils. The alcohol is quite intrusive and prickly but there’s some gentle spice and oak, which becomes rather oily with time.

Relatively soft, light and straightforward on the palate. Gently spicy and grassy with a touch of barley and malt biscuits. The alcohol is rather intrusive.

With water the nose becomes more oily and some earthy honey is now noticeable along with some old wood notes. The palate is a tad insubstantial with surprisingly some light rose petal marc notes.

Dewar Rattray Glen Spey 1991 (25 year old) 47.4%

Bourbon Hogshead 800861/ Dist: Dec 1991 Btl: Oct 2017/ Tasted: Dec 2017

A wonderfully mature and tropical nose with melon, apricot, pineapple and sawdusty oak. Hints of lime, ginger and almost oriental spices follow. With time hints of vanilla butter and fragrant barley emerge.

Juicy and moist with a mouth-filling array of tropical peach, pineapple and melon. Grippy but soft oak and barley come through on the middle along with a touch of straw and lime. Intense, slightly bitter spice finale but it’s balanced by the mouth-watering fruit and vanilla. Magnificent stuff!

Dewar Rattray ‘Individual Cask Bottling’ Glen Spey 1986 (27 year old) 52.5%

Bourbon Hogshead 1982/ Dist: Sept 1986 Btl: Jan 2014/ Tasted: Jan 2014

The nose is a little high toned and neutral to begin with hints of white fruit, straw and white liquorice. It feels pretty ancient with a lot of dusty, peppery, old wood and camphor notes. However……… Give it some time and aeration and its all change! Now the mature honey appears and mmm, mmmm, mmmmmm! It’s truly resplendent in its dusty, honeyed, mature oak magnificence!

The palate is venerable, soft and full. Quite coffee’d with hints of malt, hickory and dark spices. This is a real dark Glen Spey, and it begins to develop a rum-like dried fruit character. Deep and mouth-filling with the treacly oils balancing the slightly dry, woody notes and some camphor like herbal notes adding a little freshness. Big wow! Very long with all those lovely camphory herbal notes lingering and being joined by a touch of bitter, dark chocolate and spice.

Bladnoch Forum Glen Spey Tasting Notes

Bladnoch Forum Glen Spey 1990 (21 year old) 52.7%

Bourbon Hogshead 3523/ Dist Oct 1990 Btl: April 2012/ Tasted: May 2012

A mature and slightly oily, yet wonderfully fresh and mentholated nose. Very complex with herbs, straw, dried barley husks, light, floral honey, beeswax, pollen and a touch of white flowers. Very deep and engrossing with late slightly dusty spice notes. 

The palate pretty much mirrors the nose. Delicately honeyed with mature apricot, beeswax and barley husk notes. The alcohol builds on the middle but the weight of luscious honey keeps it under control. The beautiful, mature oak comes through on the finish with a slight light coffee note. Again very complex and very good. 

A drop of water brings out a touch of tangerine and orange blossom, but does impact upon the complexity. It does the same to a certain extent on the palate but it has become a tad rounder with some lovely, soft oily vanillins now showing along with some spice on the finish. 

Bladnoch Forum Glen Spey 1990 (21 year old) 52.4%

Bourbon Hogshead 3524/ Dist Oct 1990 Btl: Mar 2012/ Tasted: May 2012

A gristier nose of barley dust and vanilla. Less aromatic than cask 3523 but denser and weightier. There is more noticeable oak and that does dampen the nose to certain extent, but with time there is some lovely, slightly floral honey character emerging. 

The palate is very much like the nose – denser, oilier and more oaked. It dries a bit towards the middle but a touch of honey attempts to counter. Quite herbal now but the oak really bitters the finish. 

A drop of water releases the aromas and it displays a lovely, Strathmill-esque orange fruit note along with some white flowers and barley. The oak is less obtrusive and the aromas have become wonderfully juicy. The palate is showing its age now and has become slightly sugary. Yes some juicy orange fruit has been released but the oak still grips and its become a tad insubstantial, although some gentle spices show on the finish now.

Glen Spey Distillery Tasting Notes

Glen Spey ‘Flora & Fauna’ 12 year old 43%

Tasted: Nov 2011

A beautifully crisp and peppery nose with hints of fern, perfumed honey and sugar coated tangerine. Wonderfully clean and fresh with hints of malt and seed oil.

The palate has that same freshness but it definitely has some depth. Very full in the mouth with plenty of granity honey and a distinct herbaceous character which overlays some pleasant, slightly drying oak. Mouth wateringly crisp with a gentle, slightly perfumed fade.