What they say

It was on Christmas Day in 1787 that John Harvey (acting in his capacity as Chairman of the company) personally selected the whisky to be used only by family. John Harvey called this exclusive and secret family whisky, SPEY “Chairman’s Choice”.

Current Chairman John McDonough (snr.) now oversees a limited Global allocation of Chairman’s choice, to enable friends and families to share this rare gift and wonderful heritage.

A very popular multi vintage bottling from Speyside Distillery.  Drawn from different ages of our stocks to give a warm and silky dram with bags of flavour and intensity.  A combination of Bourbon and Sherry casks are used to give layers of flavour and richness to this, our biggest selling, offering.

Official tasting note

“Rich and deep amber in colour. The aroma is floral with fruit and a touch of vanilla. Flavours of dried fruits with a soft nutty and long creamy finish. Mellow cinnamon and sweet oak with a gentle and rounded aftertaste. A very approachable and satisfying malt whisky with bags of character.”

What I say

Commencing the #SpeysideDistillery twitter tasting hosted by Steve @TheWhiskyWire and @SpeySingleMalt. This was my first foray into official bottlings of The Speyside distillery’s range. Starting with the Chairman’s Choice bottling a non-age statement – cask selection led expression incorporating a variety of aged stock from both ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks.

• ABV 40%
• Age NAS
• Bottler Official
• Bottling Chairman’s Choice
• Cask Bourbon & Sherry
• Category Single malt Scotch whisky
• Cost £59.60
• Origin The Speyside Distillery
• Outturn n/a
• Region Speyside
• Released 2021
• Vintage Undeclared

My tasting notes

• Appearance Dark amber gold / almost bronze (11/20), medium tears and long, medium legs.
• Nose Sweet fresh apples! Floral, Calvados, fruity pear, later some malty sugars, slightly toasty, soft brown sugar, woody oak, vanilla, honey.
• Taste Medium-light bodied, creamy, vanilla, sugary malt, fruit & cereal in equal measures here, orchard fruits; apple, pear plus some green banana, vanilla fudge and cinnamon, oak wood, later hints of leather and dried fruit.
• Finish Long, sweet and slightly spicy oak wood.
• Overall A very easy drinker, has some nice complexity with a backdrop of Spey’s light spirit. Full of plenty of fresh fruits tempered by oak wood maturation.

Score 84/100

Don’t take my word for it:

Bloggers submit link to your review