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Glen Moray (Glen Moray) – Scotch whiskey, which for a long time remained in the shadow of more famous brands and was used as an integral part of blends. This is a typical representative of Speyside region drinks with a delicate fruit flavor, spiced with smoky notes. Despite the fact that most of the distillery’s products go into blends, the company finds opportunities to expand production and constantly increase the volume of its own releases.
Historical information
The Glen Moray plant was built in 1830 in the Scottish city of Elgin and for a long time produced beer and ale. The enterprise was converted for the production of whiskey only by the end of the 1897th century – the first batch was bottled in XNUMX. In production, local barley was used, and the spirits were aged in barrels, which was an unusual practice for that time.
In the next decade, the company was hit hard by the crisis that swept the country’s alcohol industry, and in 1910 the distillery was mothballed. Macdonald & Muir bought the distillery in 1923, and a year later the thirty-year-old whiskey was bottled, making the brand famous. Since then, production began to gain momentum.
In the early 50s, the enterprise was reconstructed – new equipment was installed and the area of warehouses was significantly expanded. The company purchased the Gallowcrook farm to be able to produce whiskey from their own barley. Saladin’s new malting plants have doubled production. Own malthouse lasted until 1978.
In 1996 Macdonald & Muir changed its name to Glenmorangie. Glen Moray distillery has long remained in the background, as the owners focused on the development of other brands. The factory produced a budget blended whiskey with a not too memorable taste. Sales grew, but the brand’s image suffered greatly.
In 2008, the distillery was bought by the French company La Martiniquaise. Currently, two thirds of the plant’s production is used in blends under other brands, including Whiskey Label 5 blend. The company regularly produces whiskey aged 10 to 18 years. There are separate bottlings with an exposure of 20 and 22 years. In the last decade, the company began working with fumigated malt – 200 thousand liters of peat spirits are distilled annually.
Production features
Water enters the plant from the nearby Lossie River. Some of the fermentation equipment is outside. The distillation shop has four pear-shaped stills with a thick neck. The largest are designed for 9,9 thousand liters of must.
Glen Moray warehouses store 85 barrels at a time. Alcohols are aged in burnt bourbon containers, which are brought from North American factories. Visitors to the distillery can watch the maturation of whiskey – several barrels with transparent inserts are installed in the warehouses, through which you can clearly see how the color of the drink changes during the aging process.
Latest awards
World Whiskies Awards, London:
- 2016 and 2018 – bronze medal;
- 2017 – silver medal.
San Francisco World Spirits Competition, San Francisco:
- 2015 – silver;
- 2016 – gold;
- 2018 – silver and double gold.
Interesting Facts
- For the 120th anniversary of the distillery, the distillery released a limited release called Mastery. Master distiller Graeme Kull has compiled a blend of five whiskeys of different ages, aged in different types of wine barrels.
- In 2018, the company decided to release the Glen Moray Cider Cask Project, aged in cider barrels. The party was instantly sold out, but the Scotch Whiskey Association did not approve of the bold experiment, so production had to be stopped.
Types of whiskey Glen Moray
Glen Moray 10 years old, 40%
Whiskey is aged in charred bourbon barrels, where it acquires a golden color. The sweet aroma blends hints of barley sugar, pineapple and coffee with cream. On the palate there are blackcurrant jam, toffee and spices. The finish is dominated by chocolate and vanilla with a slight hint of smoke.
Glen Moray 12 years old, 40%
Dark gold colored whiskey with aromas of fresh herbs, vanilla and berries. At the start, oaky tones predominate, to which shades of ripe pears, apples and sweet spices are added. The finish is long, with strong woody notes.
Glen Moray 15 years old, 40%
Aged in two types of casks – bourbon and sherry. The aroma is dominated by the smells of cherry wood and creamy toffee. The taste is moderately sweet, with a harmonious combination of shades of wine, chocolate and spices.
Glen Moray 18 years old, 47,2%
Amber-colored whiskey is aged in a specially selected batch of oak barrels. A drink with a silky texture and aromas of sherry, toffee and smoke. Heather honey, spices and burnt wood are felt in a mild taste. At the finish, peat shades appear stronger.
