Glen Spey 2010/2021 Coopers Choice 11 year old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 55%

From Rothes to Normandy — that is the journey this Glen Spey cask has taken. Eleven years matured in American oak, followed by a finish in a calvados cask from the apple orchards of Normandy. The result is a Speyside single malt that combines the familiar with the unexpected.

Expert's description

Glen Spey 2010/2021 Coopers Choice 11 year is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and finished in a calvados cask, bottled at 55% by The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. The Coopers Choice is the series from The Vintage Malt Whisky Co., founded in 1992 by Brian Crook in Milngavie. The company is named after the cooper — the cask-maker — one of the oldest and most essential crafts in the whisky world. Every release is single cask, natural colour and without chill filtration.

Glen Spey is the Rothes distillery that is rarely seen as a single malt. Distilled on 1 June 2010 in American oak casks, this bottling received a finishing period in a calvados cask (#803006) before being released in January 2021. Calvados — the Norman apple spirit — leaves clear traces: sweet, crisp apple fruitiness and a lightly spiced complexity. Only 354 bottles.

Tasting notes

Nose

Delicate peaches and sweet vanilla open first, supported by tropical notes — mango and passionfruit — along with apple peel from the calvados cask.

Palate

Soft spice and walnut whip with sweet poached pears and cooked apples in balance with lightly malty oak. The calvados cask adds a sweet, fruity complexity without dominating.

Finish

Crisp and dry with fruit and spice cutting through. Clean and well-defined.

Specifications

Name: Glen Spey 2010/2021 Coopers Choice 11 year
Distillery: Glen Spey
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 55%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American Oak & Calvados Cask
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 354
Cask no.: #803006

Flavour profile

Fruity · Apple · Spicy · Floral · Creamy

Did you know?

Calvados is France's answer to whisky — a distillate based on apple cider or pear cider from Normandy, matured in oak casks. Combining it with Scotch single malt is a relatively new trend, but the results can be surprisingly harmonious.

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Frequently asked questions about Glen Spey 2010/2021 Coopers Choice 11 year

Is Glen Spey Coopers Choice 11 year worth the price?

Yes — a single cask bottling at 55% with an original calvados cask finish is very attractive. Only 354 bottles exist, and the combination of Glen Spey and calvados is rare.

What is The Coopers Choice?

The Coopers Choice is the series from The Vintage Malt Whisky Co., founded by Brian Crook in 1992. Named after the cooper — the cask-maker — it is known for innovative, unconventional cask finishes at natural cask strength.

What is a calvados cask?

Calvados is a Norman apple spirit matured in oak casks. These casks add notes of sweet apple fruitiness, light spice and a subtle fruity complexity to the whisky.

What is cask strength, and what does 55% mean?

Cask strength means the whisky is bottled directly from the cask without dilution. 55% is powerful — a single drop of water typically opens the aromas considerably and delivers a softer texture.

Who is Glen Spey as a distillery?

Glen Spey in Rothes, Speyside, was founded in 1878. Today owned by Diageo and primarily a supplier to the J&B blend. Single malt bottlings are rare and sought after.

When is this bottling from?

Distilled on 1 June 2010, bottled in January 2021 — exactly 11 years and 7 months. The calvados finish took place in the final period before bottling.

Is there a difference between a calvados finish and calvados cask maturation?

"Finish" refers to a shorter period in a new cask at the end of maturation. Here "calvados cask" describes the specific cask that delivered the finish — resulting in a delicate calvados influence without overwhelming the original Glen Spey character.

What is the best serving temperature?

Room temperature (18–20°C). At 55%, a few drops of water are recommended to open the whisky. Use a Glencairn glass — see our whisky glass range.