Glen Spey 2015/2023 - Sansibar
Nose
The nose is light and spring-like. Vanilla, hay and floral notes dominate the picture, accompanied by lemony freshness and unripe fruit. Sounds nice at first, but somehow that certain something is missing - the flavours seem as if they haven't quite found each other yet.
Taste
Here comes the surprise: despite the 60.1%, Glen Spey is round and surprisingly accessible. Caramel provides a pleasant sweetness, while red fruits blend in discreetly. The high alcohol strength is well integrated without burning the palate - an unexpected plus point.
Finish
Here the whisky shows another interesting side: chocolate, oak, a hint of red fruit and a pleasant spiciness. The bitterness is pleasant and well integrated this time - not a disruptive tannin bomb, but a worthy finish.
Thoughts
The Glen Spey 2015/2023 definitely has its moments. Light, floral and round, but also somewhat unripe on the nose and not particularly complex. It's doing well for a 7-year-old, but the feeling remains that a few more years wouldn't have hurt. Not a must-have, but a solid dram for those who like to experiment.
Rating: 75/100 - Very Good (Marcel: 75 | Sascha: 75)
Value for Money: 3/5 - Ok
FAQ: The Most Common Questions
❓ 22222
👉 Surprisingly, no! Despite the high alcohol strength of 60.1% vol., this Glen Spey is surprisingly accessible and round on the palate. The alcoholic sharpness is well integrated and does not burn, which makes it interesting even for less experienced whisky drinkers. Nevertheless, we recommend savouring it slowly or diluting it with a few drops of water.
❓ Why does a 7-year-old whisky sometimes seem immature and what does this mean for the flavour?
👉 With young whiskies such as the Glen Spey 2015/2023, the aromas have often not yet had enough time to fully develop and harmonise. This can be seen in the "immature" nose with floral notes and unripe fruit. The complexity is less than with older whiskies, but they often offer fresh, lively flavours and can be quite convincing if the cask selection is good.
❓ Sansibar Independent Bottlings are interesting for experimenters and collectors who are looking for special bottlings. They often offer unique cask selections and alcohol strengths that are not available in standard distillery bottlings.
👉 Sansibar Independent Bottlings are interesting for experimenters and collectors who are looking for special bottlings. They often offer unique cask selections and alcohol strengths that are not available in standard distillery bottlings.