As author Mark Twain once famously said: “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough” – which is especially true if you’re drinking SPEY.
SPEY is the name on every whisky lover’s lips.
Produced by Speyside Distillery, in the Scottish Highlands at Kingussie, the award-winning expressions include single malts, limited-edition single malts and cask strength. And although famed for these, the distillery has also come up with a new tonic for using the botanicals in its grounds: gin.
We round-up the top tipples you need to try from this brand.
The Latin range of SPEY Single Malts starts with the distinctive SPEY Tenné (which is Latin for tawny). The whisky is initially aged in Bourbon barrels but is finished in freshly emptied Tawny Port casks for six months. The wood imparts a bright rose hue and sweet Port warmth to the whisky. It’s a very quaffable malt with a light aroma and faintly fruity taste. Drink with caution. 70cl, £38
Nicknamed a ‘Laura Ashley’ malt, and for good reason, SPEY Trutina is also part of the Spey Latin Collection and has an elegant, feminine aroma with a pale gold hue. The taste has a light texture and sweet start, followed by considerable crisp acidity and an aftertaste of white chocolate. 70cl, £48
SPEY Chairman’s Choice is the ultimate whisky for gift giving. It’s an exclusive and secret family whisky that originates from Christmas Day in 1787, when John Harvey (acting in his capacity as Chairman of the company) personally selected the whisky to be used only by family. Now, it has a limited global allocation to keep it rare and exclusive. Our editor Georga has a special bottle of this yet to be opened. 70cl, £70
The jewel in the crown of the SPEY range, SPEY Royal Choice is selected from some of the oldest casks in the warehouse. It is a rich and powerful bottling showing great texture and flavour, with a long smooth finish – and comes in a beautiful leather presentation box. 70Cl, £150
Latin for smoky, SPEY Fumaré has a distinctively medicinal aroma on a fresh maritime base of salt air, iodine and seaweed. The taste is sweet and lightly salty, with a smoky, medicinal finish and aftertaste of bonfire smoke – hence its name. The Spey Latin Collection pays homage to Lord Byron who SPEY have a long history in connection with, and who loved the Latin language. 70cl, £58
Beinn Dubh Whisky from Spey Distillery is matured in charred Ruby Port casks from the Douro Valley in Portugal to produce a unique ‘ruby black’ toasted whisky with a dark rich ruby colour and a unique chocolatey flavour. 70cl, £50
Crafted to celebrate Lord Byron’s love of the Scottish Highlands, which inspired him to pen some of his most beautiful and memorable poetry, Byron’s Gin – Bird Cherry is refreshingly herbaceous with berry sweetness. It features botanicals such as bird cherry, lemon-scented fern, wild thyme, juniper and blaeberry developing alongside hints of lemon balm and peppery juniper. 70cl, £43
Shop online now at: speysidedistillery.co.uk
