Whisky Review/Tasting: Spey Royal Choice

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: Speyside, Scotland.
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Distillation & Maturation: Oloroso sherry matured.
Age Statement: Not explicitly mentioned, but compared to an 18-year-old whisky in the series.
Color & Clarity: Not described, but the bottle is noted as being blue, which is unique.
Bottle Design: Comes in a high-quality wooden box with a leather front featuring stitches and a shiny label. The bottle itself is described as beautiful, with a royal blue certificate of authenticity, seals from the Spey range and the Henkes family, and a connection to historic royal places.

Balance of Flavors: A well-balanced whisky with a strong sherry influence, fruitiness, and no bitterness.
Unique Characteristics: Noted for its oloroso sherry maturation, providing a rich, full, and heavy profile.
Comparison: Described as even better than the 18-year-old whisky in the same series, indicating a high-quality flavor profile.

Historic Connection: The whisky has a historic connection dating back to the reign of King George III, with a story involving Lord Byron sending a cask of Speys single malt whisky to the king. However, the connection is described as thin since the current Speyside distillery was founded much later.
Charity Association: The whisky is developed in association with Historic Royal Places, a charity, and part of the proceeds from each bottle sold goes to this charity.

Royal and Historic Significance: The whisky's branding and story are deeply tied to British royal history and historic places, such as the Tower of London and Hampton Court Place.
Geographical Origin: Speyside whiskies are renowned for their quality, and this whisky is a representation of the region's distilling heritage.

"Wonderful full heavy strong sherry matured whisky."
"Even better than the 18-year-old, which was the best one in the series of five whiskies from Speyside."
"This connection is thin, is a very thin rope."

Spey Royal Choice is a high-quality, oloroso sherry matured single malt Scotch whisky from Speyside.
It features a rich flavor profile with strong sherry influence, fruitiness, and no bitterness.
The whisky is presented in a beautifully designed bottle and box, with a portion of proceeds going to charity.
It has a historic connection to British royalty, though the connection is considered tenuous.
Expert opinions highlight its exceptional quality, even surpassing other whiskies in the same series.

For Whisky Collectors: The unique bottle design, historic connection, and charity association make this a desirable addition to any collection.
For Sherry Cask Whisky Enthusiasts: Those who appreciate the rich, full flavors typical of oloroso sherry cask maturation will find this whisky particularly enjoyable.
For History and Royalty Buffs: The storytelling and royal connections, albeit thin, may appeal to those interested in British history and royalty.
For Connoisseurs Seeking Rarity: Given the limited availability, especially outside of London, this whisky offers an exclusive tasting opportunity.