Subscribe also Check out our forum and the new Review Browser.

Liquor Review: The Speyside 12

Published on February 1st, 2008 in Scotch by Hunter

The Speyside 12-year is produced on the banks of the River Tromie in the Speyside region of the Scottish Highlands. The Speyside Distillery is still independently owned and family-run, allowing them to ensure consistent quality. The Speyside Distillery is also among the smallest distilleries in Scotland and is located closer to the source of the River Spey than any other distillery, providing access to the area’s purest water. The 12-year is made from the local waters of the River Tromie and the fine barley from the Moray Firth region giving it a taste of both the land and the river. They seem to take pride in their Scotch, so let’s find out how it really tastes.

When popping the little cork from the bottle of The Speyside 12-year and taking a whiff, you are hit with an earthy aroma of toasted barley that is almost reminiscent of the smell of coffee and caramel. It’s quite a unique smell for Scotch. After it hits the ice, the malt opens up nicely and yields a more traditional Scotch smell with heavy overtones of the coffee scent. The nose is very unique, but on the other hand, the taste of The Speyside is nothing too spectacular. It goes down very smooth with somewhat of a hazelnut taste. This slight hazelnut taste gives way to the very earthy taste of the roasted barley. It’s a deep and rich taste, but there don’t seem to be too many complexities in the flavor. The finish is somewhat abrupt and dry, but it does give you a satisfied feeling after a sip. Compared to some other single malts, the taste of The Speyside 12 seems almost bland and a little unimpressive. There isn’t really a complex boquet of flavors to nitpick, but it’s smoothness and earthy taste could very well be a big draw for some Scotch drinkers.

Although the buzz I obtained from The Speyside 12 may not have been enough to convince me that I needed to remove my pants because they were holding me back (the buzz I got from The Glenlivet Nàdurra certainly did), I did acheived a moderate drunk during my sampling. It wasn’t really a relaxed and down-tempo drunk, and it made my taste buds yearn for more drink. Some may consider that a bad thing, but I found it to be rather nice. Like most heavy drinkers, I enjoy mixing my liquors throughout the night, and any Scotch that seems welcoming to the idea gets a small boost in opinion from me. The Speyside’s liquor-friendliness makes me view this Scotch as more of a Scotch to drink when planning to start a long evening of debauchery rather than a night of relaxation at home. The buzz will give you a good start to the night, and your body will readily welcome other friendly beverages. Soon, you may find yourself out on the town, destined to an evening filled with fuzzy memories that you can embellish in your own mind to make you feel special. Of course, this apparent liquor friendliness and playfulness does not come without a price.

The next morning was pretty much hell on me. Scratch that; the next day was pretty much hell for me. I stumbled into work the next morning feeling rather exhausted and extremely sick to my stomach. I choked down a sports drink and later a milkshake (I didn’t have to get the cookies ’n’ cream one, but I did anyway) to try to rid my body of the ravaging poisons from the night before, but all was for naught. To put it crassly, The Speyside 12 kicked my ass. I felt I should curl up in the fetal position and cry to the liquor gods, begging them to protect me from the evils of daylight, loud noises, and office work. I actually sprinted to the bathroom on a couple different occassions, even late in the day, expecting it to be the big one. Fortunately for me and everyone else who might have been in the restroom at work, I managed to keep it all down. This is not a beverage for the weak of stomach, and I would not reccommend drinking much of it on a work night.

Although it isn’t the easiest Scotch to find, The Speyside 12 is rather cheap for a single malt. You should be able to find a bottle at a local liquor store for around $31. For that price, you may very well be able to afford to stock it at home. The overall quality of the Scotch is a great bargain at that price point, and it’s an awesome value for a night of fun. I haven’t had many Scotches in this price range that are as drinkable as this one. So if you are looking for an affordable single malt experience and you don’t have to work early the next morning…or at all the next day, give The Speyside 12 a try.

Sipability – 6.0

Mixability – N/A

Drunkability – 7.0

Hangover-ability – 4.0

Bang for the Buck – 8.0

Overall - 6.0