Some things get more interesting with age…and single malt Scotch whisky is one of them.
Glen Moray’s Heritage Range is a good example: a collection of whiskies that are aged to perfection, with generations of skill in maturing and marrying casks echoed in every bottle.
But behind each age statement, there is so much more to explore: a wealth of flavour and the Speyside Distillery’s rich history of maturing whiskies in an unusually wide selection of casks over the years.
Glen Moray Global Brand Ambassador Iain Allan explained how each whisky in Glen Moray’s Heritage range is an invitation to discover the craftsmanship, patience and depth of flavour that only time and distilling expertise can create. He said: ‘Age is very often the most important factor when it comes to choosing a whisky for yourself or as a gift, as an indicator of years of maturation and quality. However, I’d urge people to look behind the number and think about how that time in cask has influenced the spirit; the wonderful flavours and notes that you can look forward to nosing and tasting, and the incredible depth and complexity that age can bring. Whatever the final age of a single malt, the cask it has been held in will have worked its magic – particularly at Glen Moray where we have explored aging spirit in an a very diverse range of casks since our Distillery was founded in 1897.’
Glen Moray 12 Years Old
Aged in: American Oak Casks – beautifully balancing vanilla and berried notes, this quintessential Speyside whisky reflects all of Glen Moray’s expertise. This single malt is entirely aged in carefully selected American oak casks to bring out its traditional Speyside character. 40% abv. RRP: £46.50
Colour: Polished Gold
Nose: Rich, sweet, and floral with notes of vanilla toffee and berry fruits.
Taste: Toasted oak, intense dark fruits and creamy toasted vanilla.
Finish: Smooth and satisfying. A lovely balance of sweet vanilla and spiced oak delivers a smooth and well balanced finish.
Glen Moray Smoky 12
Aged in: American Oak and Bourbon Casks – matured in two different types of cask: American oak for notes of vanilla and caramel with a smooth bourbon undertone; and European oak, bringing stronger vanilla flavours, with tannins, pepper, fruit and gentle spice. Glen Moray’s wonderfully light and easy-drinking spirit imbued with the richness of peated malt and the deliciously complex flavours of maturation in two different types of wood. 46.3% ABV. Non-chill filtered. RRP: £52.75
Colour: Golden straw
Nose: Gentle smoke floats over notes of vanilla and orchard fruits, lightly touched by spice.
Taste: Caramelised apples and baked plums balanced by peaty undertones, with hints of oak
Finish: Delightfully long, as fruity notes fade into smouldering bonfire embers and oak tannins.
Glen Moray 15 Years Old
Aged in: American Oak and Oloroso Sherry Casks – two very different cask types marry in one outstanding dram. With half spending it’s life in American oak embodying Glen Moray’s classic style, the other half maturing in oloroso sherry casks resplendent with rich spice, the result is intensely complex layers, amplified by age. 40% ABV. RRP: £61.75
Colour: Copper
Nose: Sherried oak and butter toffee. Hints of dark chocolate and mixed spice.
Taste: Full-bodied finely-oaked wine flavours, spiced dark chocolate and a hint of smoke.
Finish: The oak lingers as the dried fruit sweetness gradually fades. A finish which is intense and satisfying.
Glen Moray 18 Years Old
Aged in: First-fill American Oak Casks – overflowing with spice, oaky intensity and caramelised fruit, this single malt whisky is aged entirely in American oak casks for a rare intensity. By using first-fill casks that have not been used for single malt previously, the spirit is enhanced with the wood’s maximum flavours of vanilla, oak and toffee. 47.2% abv. Non-chill filtered. RRP: £93
Colour: Antique Gold
Nose: Toasted oak with deep notes of treacle toffee and caramelised autumn fruits.
Taste: Baked spiced apple and vanilla smoked raisins. Rich, smooth and utterly satisfying.
Finish: The sweetness and spice fade naturally leaving a light cloud of smoke and toasted oak. A finish which is elegant and wonderfully long.
Glen Moray Heritage Range is available from specialist whisky retailers. Glen Moray 12 Year Old is now available in Morrison, Waitrose & Sainsburys stores (Scotland)