...where distraction is the main attraction.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012




No he I am not.  I promise.  :-)




And this is:

Distillery: Glen Spey
Owner: Diageo
Age: minimum 21 years (1988 - 2010)
Maturation: ex-sherry American oak
Region: Speyside (Rothes)
Alcohol by Volume: 50.4%
Limited Release: 5844 bottles

A bit about the distillery:



A bit about the whisky:



The Tastin':





Color -- Deep gold with a hint of red

First thought:  This is grand.




Availability - Some US liquor specialists
Pricing - Very Good at $170-$190
Rating - 92



  1. Considering I broke down and paid $250 for the Rosebank 21, the Glen Spey at the same age actually looks reasonable for the price...

    Did Diageo end the Flora and Fauna series? That was often the only way you could get an official bottling from one of their obscure distilleries. Though it's not of any help to us here since the F&F series never made it's way over here (but they are available on the Whisky Exchange).

    1. There seem to be some Mortlach Flora & Faunas out there, but I think they ended most of the F&Fs. The last Glen Spey F&F I can find was bottled in 2008.

      The Glen Spey 21yr was heavenly, or maybe my memory is getting positively fuzzy. And you're right, comparatively the price ain't bad. I've stared at it many times in shop windows and browser windows...

  2. I am drinking it now - my second bottle. That marks $340 plus 8.25% tax that I've plunked down for this. Another of the customers of the shop where I bought it took home - get this - 18 bottles. He stuff some of them in his Lamborghini. No kidding.

    Anyway, I would gladly share...but I suspect that it will be gone shortly. :)

    1. Thanks for your comment! I didn't realize there were 18 bottles of this stuff left at a single store. I guess Lamborghini Guy at least had some good taste. As do you. You likely got it for the best rate going right now. I bought a bottle from The Whisky Exchange last year when they were having their "US Shipping Sale". Saving it for my (future) child's first birthday. So I must wait 18 months.

  3. After looking at the list of Glen distilleries, I'm adding Glen Spey to my unofficial list of most obscure open distilleries (it's also the most obscure Glen). Looking at Serge's tastings, Glen Spey has a very limited number of indie releases too. J&B must need a lot of Glen Spey for blending purposes.

    1. Yeah, I think it's all going into J&B. And you're right, there are not a lot of indie bottlings around. There's a young G&M Connoisseur's Choice and Provenance in the US, but that's about it. Europe looks to have a half dozen or so and a Flora and Fauna. With Diageo holding the reins on their malt, I doubt there will be too many indies of it in the future. A bummer (again) because it seems like decent whisky.