Glen Spey 15Y (2008-2024) Ruby Port Hogshead 54.8 IFF N°150 "Alistair Walker Whisky Company"

Another whisky whose appearances as an official distillery-bottling are fleeting, Glen Spey hails from the iconic whisky town of Rothes, in Speyside, which is also home to Glen Grant, Speyburn, Glenrothes, and the now sadly lost Caperdonich. Originally built in 1878, there is some real history here.

As with the Strathmill, on this occasion the whisky has been finished in the smaller cask type for Port (a 225 litre hogshead as opposed to the much bigger port pipes, which can be as large as 650 litres). The result, of course, being greater exposure to the wood, thereby increasing the influence of the port cask on the whisky contained within.

Ruby port wood tends to deliver an outstanding explosion of fruits and berries. A really big influence on the whisky, perhaps not quite as heavy as PX sherry, and more of a fruit-forward profile than the dark chocolate and brown sugars of a sherry cask.

Definitely one of my favourite cask types to work with.

Re-racked to the ruby port cask in January 2021, bottled in June 2024 – a finishing period of 3 years and 5 months.