Glen Spey is one of those distilleries that rarely gets its moment in the spotlight. Tucked away in Rothes — a town that punches well above its weight in Speyside whisky production — it spends most of its life as a workhorse for Diageo's blending operations, with the lion's share of its output disappearing into J&B. So when an independent bottler like Mossburn pulls a single cask and gives it a proper finishing treatment, it's worth paying attention. This 13-year-old expression, distilled in 2011 and finished in apple brandy casks, is exactly the kind of bottling that reminds you why indie releases matter.
At 56% ABV, this is not a whisky that's been diluted into submission. Mossburn have had the good sense to bottle at cask strength, which tells me they trusted the spirit to speak for itself. That's a confident move, and one I respect. The apple brandy finish is an interesting choice — not as common as sherry or wine cask finishes, but increasingly popular among bottlers looking to coax something different out of Speyside malt. Apple brandy casks tend to bring a certain orchard-fruit brightness and a dry, tannic structure that can complement lighter, more floral spirit styles beautifully.
Tasting Notes
I'll be honest — I'm not going to fabricate specific tasting notes here. What I will say is that Glen Spey's house style tends toward the lighter, more elegant end of Speyside character. At 13 years old with that apple brandy influence, you should expect the distillery's natural cereal sweetness to be layered with fruit-forward cask character. The cask strength presentation means you can explore this at full power or add water gradually to see how it opens up — and with a whisky like this, I'd strongly recommend both approaches.
The Verdict
At £94.50, this sits in a competitive bracket. You're paying a premium over entry-level single malts, but you're getting cask strength, a genuinely uncommon cask finish, and 13 years of maturation from a distillery whose single malt releases remain relatively scarce. For the whisky drinker who's bored of the usual sherry-bomb routine and wants something with a bit of personality, this Glen Spey delivers. Mossburn have built a solid reputation for their cask selection, and this bottling reinforces that. A rating of 7.7 out of 10 feels right — this is a well-made, interesting dram that rewards curiosity without breaking the bank. It's not trying to be the greatest whisky ever bottled, and that honesty is part of its charm.
Best Served
Start this one neat in a Glencairn to get the full cask-strength experience, then add a few drops of water — at 56%, it genuinely needs it, and the whisky will thank you for the room to breathe. A teaspoon of water should bring the fruit character forward and soften the spirit heat. This is an evening dram, one for sitting with rather than rushing through. If you're feeling adventurous, it would make a remarkably good Highball — the apple brandy influence and that Speyside lightness could pair brilliantly with quality soda water and a thin slice of fresh apple.
