Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Glen Spey 1995 22 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The Glen Spey 1995 22 Year Old exhibits an enticing bouquet of aromas, where ripe pear, banana, and freshly cut pineapple dance with decadent notes of crème brûlée, fragrant jasmine, and rich chocolate. Upon tasting, the whisky reveals a harmonious blend of flavors, exhibiting a vibrant acidity from the green fruit notes which balance beautifully against the backdrop of warm, gently spicy chili nuances. The texture is smooth with a well-rounded mouthfeel that enhances the experience. Lingering notes of oak subtly persist, offering an oak-y bitterness that underlines the maturity of the whisky. Hints of herbal characteristics weave through the palate, adding to its complexity, leading to a refined and elongated finish.

The Glen Spey distillery, founded in 1878 by the architect and entrepreneur James Grant, has a long-standing reputation for producing elegant and nuanced whiskies. The year 1995 marked the beginning of a new era for Glen Spey, as it became renowned for its unique flavor profile, characterized by a complex interplay of oak and fruit. The 22-year maturation process in refill American oak hogsheads allows the whisky to develop additional layers of character, imparting both nuance and depth. Gordon & MacPhail, a venerable independent bottler, has been instrumental in showcasing Glen Spey's exceptional qualities, particularly with this Connoisseurs Choice bottling, which highlights the distillery’s craftsmanship and the careful selection of cask types for aging.

The production of Glen Spey 1995 22 Year Old begins with the careful selection of premium malted barley, which is first mashed and mixed with hot water to extract fermentable sugars. Yeast is then added to the washbacks, where fermentation occurs for approximately three to four days, creating a low wine with an alcohol content of around 8 to 10 percent. This low wine is then distilled twice in traditional copper pot stills, transferring to the spirit still after the first distillation to achieve a higher purity and alcohol level. The heart of the distillation process is collected at approximately 70 percent ABV. Once distilled, the spirit is placed in a pair of refill American oak hogsheads, which have previously held bourbon, where it will mature for 22 years. This aging process is essential, as it allows the whisky to absorb character from the cask, imbuing it with notes of vanilla, caramel, and subtle spice while also mellowing the spirit. After maturation, the whisky is carefully tasted and blended before being bottled at 46% ABV, ensuring that each bottle reflects the unique characteristics developed over its long aging period.