Glen Spey 1988 (Sansibar)

A Glen Spey 1988 that was released some time ago by Sansibar in their Samurai label series.

Glen Spey 27 yo 1988 (47,7%, Sansibar ‘Spirits Shop Selection’ 2015, bourbon barrel, 198 btl.)

Nose: medium fruity (melon, sweet lemon, hints of papaya) mixed (and slightly muted) by some chalky notes and sweet grassy notes and hay. Plain oak, as well as some minty notes. After a while the fruitiness become rather candied (pineapple cubes).

Mouth: some creamy fruits again, as well as some marzipan, but there’s also the sharper, greener, grassier side. Lots of citrus zest. Slightly bitter grapefruit and ginger. Walnuts.

Finish: medium long, with a slight tannic edge, pepper and grapefruit.

A tight and citrusy profile, but there’s a harsh grassy / oaky side. Kind of a Lowlands Glen Spey? The shops that still have stock demand some € 250 or more, which is hard to justify in my opinion.

Score: 84/100