Whisky Review/Tasting: Spey Tenne

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: Speyside, Scotland.
Type: Single Malt Whisky.
Distillation & Maturation: Matured in bourbon barrels and finished in tawny port casks for six months.
Age Statement: No specific age statement, but implied to be relatively young, possibly around 2.5 years in ex-bourbon casks before finishing.
Color & Clarity: Slight mahogany color with a little red, indicating the influence of the tawny port cask finish.
Bottle Design: The bottle is taller than typical whisky bottles, non-chill filtered, 46% ABV, with a selected edition of 18,000 bottles. The packaging includes extra wrapping with paper on each bottle, a cork with a design, and no coloring added.

Overall Profile: Light and fruity with a noticeable alcohol presence due to its lightness. It has a very slight caramel note.
Unique Characteristics: The whisky is described as slightly sharp and young, with a light metallic note common in younger whiskies. The spice from the oak is present, but the fruitiness vanishes quickly, leading to an unbalanced profile.
Comparison: The tawny port finish is not as strong or aroma-laden as other whiskies finished in similar casks, which was a point of disappointment for the reviewer.

Distillery Background: Horst Luening introduced the Speyside distillery, covering both the new and old distilleries and their histories in a separate video.
Production Insights: The specific finishing process in tawny port casks is highlighted, a favorite of the reviewer, setting expectations for the whisky's profile.

Packaging for Asian Market: The elaborate packaging, including the extra wrapping and bottle design, is specifically mentioned as being directed towards the Asian market, where presentation is crucial, especially for gifts.

"Tawny pod is one of my favorites. So I expect a lot out of this whisky."
"This one is strange. So it's a little sharp. It's a little young."
"It's worth the money but I hope the other ones are more mature and more satisfying my wishes."

Spey Tenne is a young, light, and fruity single malt whisky from the Speyside distillery, matured in bourbon barrels and finished in tawny port casks.
The whisky lacks maturity, presenting an unbalanced flavor profile with a quick vanishing fruitiness and a light metallic note.
The packaging is designed with the Asian market in mind, emphasizing the importance of presentation.
Despite the disappointment in the whisky's maturity and depth of flavor, the reviewer acknowledges its value due to the quality of the bottle and packaging.

For Whisky Beginners: This might be an interesting introduction to port cask-finished whiskies, given its light and approachable profile.
For Whisky Collectors: The limited edition nature and unique packaging might make it a worthwhile addition to a collection, especially for those interested in Speyside whiskies.
For Whisky Enthusiasts: Those with a preference for mature, complex whiskies might find this too young and unbalanced but could appreciate it as a comparison point for other port cask finishes.