Region: Speyside

Location: Rothes, Aberlour, Banffshire

Status: Operational (owned by Diageo)

General whisky characteristics: Nuts, citrus

More great distillery info here thanks to Malt Madness

Distillery photos by kind permission of Teun Van Wel

Glen Spey, Managers Choice, distilled 1996, 52% ABV

American Oak - New Wood, one of 276 bottles

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Very pale yellow

Nose: Warming malt, slight citrus and light wood.

Palate: Immediately warming with fruit / berries, followed by a malty, slightly citrus wood.

With 4 drops of water: Smoother but fresher with a little more citrus and wood, but less malt.

With a further 5 drops of water: Smoother with more wood, but less citrus.

Finish: Very long

Overall Impression: An enjoyable whisky, but not overy special. Don't tell me how much it costs!

Independent Bottlers

Malts of Scotland, Glen Spey, distilled 21.11.1977, bottled 10.2009, 31y, 55.8% ABV

bourbon hogshead #3656

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Spiegelau

Colour: Pale yellow / gold

Nose: Initially a nose of good cognac. This soon settles to matured wood with grass and malt, but with an over-riding citrus element, more lemon than orange.

Palate: Smooth with a massive burst of nutty lemon. Almost like a small slice of marzipan-coated lemon.

With 4 drops of water: The nose is more rounded and the palate has less citrus and more marzipan.

As I add more water this reverts back to the cognac nose, but the palate is lighter and fresher with a little more citrus again.

Finish: Long with citrus

Overall Impression: This need