Not every hero wears a cape — some wear a label with a bird. Glen Spey 12 year is one of the quiet classics from Diageo's Flora & Fauna series: a distillery that rarely performs as a soloist, here caught in a bottle in its purest form. Fruity, light and genuinely accessible.
Expert's description
Glen Spey 12 year Flora & Fauna is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 43% as part of Diageo's Flora & Fauna series. Glen Spey distillery sits at the heart of Rothes, Speyside, and is one of the smallest in Diageo's portfolio. Founded in 1878 as Mill of Rothes by James Stuart, acquired by W. & A. Gilbey in 1887 and since 1962 part of IDV, later Diageo. Almost all production goes into the J&B blend, and official single malt bottlings have historically been rare.
The Flora & Fauna series was launched in 1992 by United Distillers (now Diageo) as a tribute to distilleries that don't normally appear as single malt. The 26 original labels depict plants and animals from each distillery's local environment. Twelve years in oak casks at 43% produces a classic, balanced Speyside profile: fresh, floral and gently fruity with a creamy mid-palate.
Tasting notes
Nose
Fresh and floral with light citrus — lemon, grapefruit and clementine — underpinned by green apples, pears and a faint vanilla sweetness. Freshly cut grass and a hint of malted bread.
Palate
Soft and silky on the palate with orchard fruit — green apples and pears — combined with toffee, vanilla and a discreet spiced oak element. Orange and light almond round off the mid-palate.
Finish
Medium-length and clean with fresh fruit and a gentle sweetness. Classic, uncomplicated Speyside finish.
Specifications
Name: Glen Spey 12 year Flora & Fauna
Distillery: Glen Spey
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Non-chill filtered: No
EAN no.: 5000281016108
Flavour profile
Floral · Fruity · Light · Creamy · Fresh
Did you know?
The name "Flora & Fauna" is credited to whisky writer Michael Jackson, who helped United Distillers market the series in the early 1990s. The labels depicting local plants and animals have since become highly sought after by collectors.
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