Glen Spey 11 YO 2002 Hepburn’s Choice Single Malt

Glen Spey 11 YO 2002 Hepburn’s Choice Single Malt

Speyside, Bottled by Hunter Laing

46% ABV/92 Proof, Aged 11Y in a Sherry Butt

Distilled in 2002 and Bottled in 2014

816 bottles produced

Eye: Very pale - almost colorless. Thick rim with droplet, thick legs.

Nose: Grassy, almost turf-like funkiness. There is an odd mineral note I can’t identify by name but which is off-putting.

Palate: Acidic, lots of green apple, turf and petrichor, underlaid by lots of heat. Whatever that mineral note is in the nose doesn’t carry over to the palate. Mouthfeel is light-to-medium, not coating at all.

Finish: Short and hot. 

Overall: The nose is just plain weird. The palate is unexpectedly hot and grassy; while not as off-putting as the nose, it’s not great either. 

Rating: 2.5

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)

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