SPEY 12 Brume Dorée Edition 2 - Whisky Review
SPEY 12-Year-Old Brume Dorée Edition 2 Single Malt: Whisky Review & Tasting Notes
Time for another dram!
Today we are returning to one of Speyside's most picturesque, boutique distilleries: Speyside Distillery in Kingussie, tucked along the River Tromie. Known for producing single malts under the SPEY label that lean into elegant wood maturations, their Brume Dorée releases have become an exciting showcase of natural cask-strength power.
Having previously reviewed the original release, I was keen to dive into the latest follow-up:
SPEY 12-Year-Old Brume Dorée (Edition 2).
Delivered at an uncompromising 56.1% ABV, it commands attention straight away with a stunning, natural deep copper tone in the glass.
Here is my honest breakdown of how it performs neat versus with a splash of water, and my final verdict on whether Edition 2 deserves a place on your shelf.
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What is SPEY 12 Brume Dorée Edition 2? (Cask & Spirit Details)
Speyside Distillery is renowned for small-batch craftsmanship, using traditional copper pot stills with long lyne arms that produce a naturally fragrant, refined spirit.
While "Brume Dorée" translates to "Golden Mist"—evoking the morning vapours rising over the Cairngorm mountain foothills it actually refers to the oak toasting process involving a water mist and moderate fire to achieve deep layers of flavour.
Edition 2 turns the dial up on natural wood extraction and proof.
Distillery / Region: Speyside Distillery, Kingussie, Speyside, Scotland
Whisky Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottling: SPEY 12 Year Old Brume Dorée (Edition 2)
Age Statement: 12 Years Old
ABV: 56.1% (Natural Cask Strength)
Colour: Deep, glowing copper (colouring has been added)
Chill Filtration: Non-chill filtered
SPEY 12 Brume Dorée Edition 2 Flavour Profile & Tasting Notes
Time to try it!
Poured into a Glencairn, the visual density is immediately apparent. It shows a deep, rich copper hue, clinging to the sides of the glass with heavy, slow-moving tears.
The Nose
Very flavourful and expressive right from the first approach. Despite sitting at 56.1% ABV, the ethanol does not attack your senses; you can feel the proof with a mild warmth.
Rich waves of dark forest fruits dominate—plump blackberries, ripe blackcurrants, and dried fruit. Beneath the berries sits a solid layer of dark brown sugar, rich sultanas, and soft toasted oak, balancing out the richness without turning cloying or artificial.
The Palate
The arrival is bold and intensely flavourful. Sipped neat, the dark orchard and forest fruits carry straight over from the nose onto the tongue. Thick sultanas and rich dried fruits mingle with a gentle undercurrent of sweet vanilla cream and warming oak spice. It has good presence on the tongue without an excessive heat prickle.
The Finish
Medium to medium-short in length. Sipped straight, the finish feels a touch abrupt—it delivers a quick burst of warmth before tapering off into residual dried fruit and a faint, sweet toffee-like note.
Adding Water: What Changes?
At 56.1% ABV, adding a splash of water is well worth the experiment, completely reshaping both texture and flavour:
The Mouthfeel & Citrus: A few drops immediately enhance the oily mouthfeel across the palate. It draws out a bright, zesty touch of fresh lime peel that cuts through the heavier wood influence.
Taming the Heat vs Fruit: Water certainly mellows down the alcoholic sharpness and rounds off the edges. However, it is a bit of a trade-off: while it softens the proof, it slightly dials back the punchy dark forest fruit character of the neat pour.
The Verdict on Water: I recommend adding just a couple of drops. It loosens up the spirit, brings out lovely lime zest and vanilla, and leaves you with an exceptionally smooth, flavour-packed sip.
Final Verdict: Is SPEY 12 Brume Dorée Edition 2 Worth It?
SPEY 12 Brume Dorée Edition 2 is an impressive, characterful Speyside malt.
It steers clear of generic sweetness, instead offering a rich interplay between dark hedgerow berries, plump sultanas, and drying oak spice. While the finish neat is slightly on the shorter side, opening it up with a couple of drops of water rewards you with a silky, oily texture, fresh lime oils, and creamy vanilla.
If you appreciate cask-strength whiskies that deliver serious flavour without needing to shout, this is a very pleasant dram to spend time with.
Where to Buy: If you want to explore the SPEY range for yourself, click or tap here to check current bottlings and availability on Master of Malt or The Whisky Shop.
As far as I know, this second edition will be available in Taiwan.
*Thank you, Spey Whisky, for this sample.
As always, please drink responsibly.
If you enjoyed this review, feel free to like or share it below, and if you have sampled either edition of the Brume Dorée series, let me know your thoughts in the comments!
I hope life is treating you well.
Take care
