Spey royal is a blend created in around 1916 by W&A Gilbey, a blender and gin and brandy producer. It takes its name from the River Spey in Speyside, which is surrounded by numerous distilleries. The company also launched the Gilbery’s Special Export 8 Years Old and a Spey Royal 1857 in reference to the year the group was founded. W&A Gilbey became International Distillers and Vintners (IDV) after merging with United Wine Traders in 1962. Spey Royal was quickly eclipsed by the group’s Goliath, J&B. Everything now belongs to Diageo.

A Spey Royal from the 1960s imported to Italy by Cinzano, Turin. Glen Spey forms the heart of the blend and is supported by Strathmill and Knockando, all of which belong to W&A Gilbey.