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Glen Moray
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Glen Moray, 1989 Vintage (Scotland) 
Glen Moray is hidden away beyond the back streets of Elgin, and has the lowest profile of Glenmorangie plc’s three distilleries. Like Glenmorangie, its origins lay in a brewery, and conversion to whisky-making took place in 1897, during the height of the late Victorian whisky boom. Now, the development of a dedicated visitor centre and its recent inclusion in the Speyside Malt Whisky Trail is bringing Glen Moray distillery and its single malt to wider notice. This expression of Glen Moray is a 1989 bottling from a first fill Bourbon cask. It is delicate and floral on the nose, with slight maltiness and marzipan notes. Rich and surprisingly full-bodied on the palate, with toffee, fresh fruits and malt. Comparatively long and drying in the finish. Dilution opens up a greater fragrance on the nose and cinnamon makes an appearance on the palate. 40.0% ABV, 70cl, £50, distillery website. |  |
Glen Moray, Mountain Oak – The Final Release (Scotland)
Launched at last month’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, this cask strength expression of Glen Moray was selected by distillery manager Graham Coull and is the second and final ‘Mountain Oak’ release, following on from the highly regarded first bottling, which appeared in 2003.
The whisky has been matured since filling during 1991 in what Glen Moray calls “A unique selection of toasted and charred mountain oak casks from North America,” and just 1,158 bottles are available from the distillery, signed by Graham Coull.
The nose offers pleasing soft fruits, orange fruit pastilles and vanilla fudge, along with a hint of nutmeg. Vanilla notes are more pronounced with prolonged exposure to air. Pears, pineapples and soft fudge on the palate, with developing nuts, traces of treacle and lively ginger. Tobacco, ginger and a hint of pepper round off the comparatively lengthy finish.
A lovely, appetizing and accomplished Glen Moray. A pity that with litres of the ‘standard’ single malt offering available in some supermarkets for under £15.00 at present, there is an understandable public perception that this is a bargain basement malt in terms of quality
58.6% ABV, 70cl, £70.00, distillery website.  |  |
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