Welcome back Ladies & Gentleman. Today I wanted to tell you about an underrated distillery and a few of their bottles. This distillery is non other than the Glen Moray Distillery. This distillery goes under the radar for some reason. Why? I don't know. However I think their whiskies are great and they are not overpriced. In this world where whisky prices just climb and climb over the clouds it's sure nice having a distillery that doesn't live in a fantasy world and think that their whisky is worth ridiculously high prices such as Macallan or Dalmore or I could go on an on, but that's not the point of this article to name distilleries that are overpricing their whiskies. We are here to talk about Glen Moray. Strap in, let's get into it.

The 5 bottles I am reviewing today are in this order:

• Glen Moray Elgin Classic Port Cask Finish 40% - 27 EUR
• Glen Moray Elgin Classic Chardonnay Finish 40% - 27 EUR
• Glen Moray 12 years old 40% - 33 EUR
• Glen Moray 15 years old 40% - 45 EUR
• Glen Moray 18 years old 47.2% - 91 EUR

DISCLAIMER! These prices are valid at the time of this review: 2024.05.31

About the distillery

Glen Moray distillery is a Speyside distillery producing single malt scotch whisky. Situated on the banks of the River Lossie in Elgin, Moray the distillery started production in September 1897. 

The building in which Glen Moray is housed started out as the West Brewery, founded in 1828. In 1897, its owners, Robert Thorne & Sons, converted the site into a two-still Whisky distillery. Thorne & Sons also ran the nearby Aberlour distillery, the maintenance of which took up the majority of their time, leaving the Glen Moray distillery to run into ruin, eventually closing in 1910.

The distillery was purchased by the owners of the Glenmorangie Distillery, the MacDonald and Muir families at some time during the 1920s. 

In 1996 Macdonald & Muir changed it's name to Glenmorangie plc. The company continued to put a higher level of focus on the Glenmorangie brand than Glen Moray, especially when Glenmorangie plc themselves were taken over by the luxury goods retailer Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey in 2004. This change of management didn't last very long, with Glen Moray being sold to the current owners La Martiniquaise in 2004. 

Glen Moray's production capacity sits at a very respectable 2.3 million liters a year. The water used in Glen Moray is drawn from the nearby River Lossie. One of the unique distinguishing facets of the distillation process at Glen Moray is that the condensors are located outside of the stillroom. 

Glen Moray has two wash stills which each have a 9900 liter capacity, and two wash stills, which have a 5800 liter capacity. Both the wash stills and the spirit stills have a pear shape, being shorter than the average stills, with a wide base and thick neck. Glen Moray operated with just one wash still and one spirit still until 1979, when the number of stills was doubled. The current pot stills at the distillery were installed in 1992. 

Glen Moray used it's own floor maltings until 1958, when they were replaced with a Saladin's box. The Saladin box was used for two decades, until malting at the distillery was completely decommissioned in 1978. The distillery now sources its' maltings from an industrial site, although they are grown locally. The maltings used in the production of the Whisky are unpeated. In most recent years, Glen Moray has started experimenting with using peated maltings, producing it's first ever batch of peated spirit in 2009.

Glen Moray Elgin Classic Port Cask Finish - Colored, Chill filtered, 40%

"This Glen Moray celebrates our passion for exploring the array of flavours different casks can bring to our whisky. First matured in American oak casks for classic Speyside notes, it is then carefully finished over several months in port casks from Porto Cruz, renowned as the world's No. 1 port. Over time, these sweet Portuguese wine casks enrich our single malt with rich fruits and mellow wine notes and give the whisky a distinctive rosy tint. Light, fruity and balanced, our Port Cask Finish is enjoyed by single malt lovers and whisky newcomers alike."

This is a cheap whisky by all means. The Elgin Classic range is mostly targeted at people who are entering the world of whisky. They have the original release and then various cask finishes which don't overtake the spirit itself but leave a nice influence in the whisky for you to get to know how each different types of casks will change the whisky.

Nose: The classic Glen Moray DNA. Lots of vanilla with toffee, toasted oak, hints of cinnamon and allspice, some red berries and maybe a wee bit of leather and dark fruit notes.

Taste: Creamy, pleasant, sweet. Vanilla, toffee and oak coming first with a burst of spiciness. Then you get some red apple, ripe pears and red berries with the cinnamon on top.

Finish: Medium length, nothing too crazy. The vanilla sweetness lingers with a hint of oakiness.

I think it is a fairly good single malt whisky if you want to see how a small finish influences the drink. Here the port is there but not overwhelming and it is a spirit driven whisky. I would recommend it because yes it's that pleasant. Great whisky to have around whenever you feel like you want to have something light and sweet. 84 / 100

Glen Moray Elgin Classic Chardonnay Cask Finish - Colored, Chill filtered, 40%

"Since the early 1900's we've been known for exploring the ways in which different casks can influence our whisky and this single malt is an outstanding example of our experimental style. Matured first in American oak casks in the traditional Glen Moray way, it is then finished in Chardonnay white wine casks. These casks layer tropical fruit and warm spice on our whisky's classic vanilla notes, culminating in this sweetly approachable dram."

Nose: Glen Moray DNA is what I really like again. Then green apples, pears, vanilla, tropical fruits, caramel, toasted oak. Sprinkled with a little cinnamon and a soft&sour wine aftertaste.

Taste:  Soft and round as all Glen Morays, pleasant, mouthwatering. Vanilla and caramel are the first two flavors. Then tropical fruits, black pepper and towards the end a dryness and sourness from the wine cask.

Finish: Medium, sweet with tropical fruits and juicy grapes but overtime it gets dry and a bit sour from the wine casks.

This is an OK whisky. However I think this is an aquired taste. The wine casks leave some sour note that will not be liked by most people. Maybe it was a bit worse batch? I don't know. I would not recommend buying this bottle but I think it's worth a taste if you see it in a bar. 79 / 100

Glen Moray Heritage 12 years old - Colored, Chill filtered, 40%

"A whisky with a long heritage, beautifully balancing vanilla and berried notes, this quintessential Speysider reflects all our expertise. It is distilled on the banks of the River Lossie where we have been making Glen Moray since 1897. This single malt is entirely aged in carefully selected American oak casks to bring out its traditional Speyside character." 

Nose: Glen Moray DNA, vanilla, toffee and toasted oak. Orchard fruits such as green apples, pears and peaches. Then a gentle spicy note appears with some floral notes. In the back tropical fruits such as mango and papaya.

Taste: Incredibly smooth and rounded. Vanilla, toffee and toasted oak again with a hint of warming spiciness. Tropical fruits and orchard fruits. Very creamy and full mouthfeel, not watery at all even tho it's 40% abv.

Finish: Smooth and satisfying. Balanced with vanilla some spiciness and oak.

Overall this is a quite well-rounded and tasty single malt. I completely understand that people don't like the fact that it is colored and chill-filtered but come on. It's readily available almost all the time and it's fairly cheap for a 12 year old whisky. It was matured in Ex-bourbon american oak casks so it should be a light and fruity whisky as I would say: Speyside in a glass. I also think by the way that fully ex-bourbon american oak matured whiskies are underrated because now sherry and other cask maturation is what people want, but eventually it will turn again and these lovely single malts will go to the spotlight once again. 85 / 100

Glen Moray Heritage 15 years old - Colored, Chill filtered, 40%

"Our 15 Year Old marries two very different cask types 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, we bring their contrasting styles together to craft intensely complex layers. With tastes of dried fruits, dark chocolate and spice, amplified by age, this Scotch whisky is a perfect treat for single malt lovers eager to discover more." 

Nose: Getting vanilla, dark chocolate, and spices first. Then the toffee and toasted oak comes through thus we have the typical GM DNA once again. Red berries and orchard fruits.

Taste: Vanilla, toasted oak and dark chocolate with toffee and a gentle spiciness. Again very smooth, round and pleasant. Red berries, cinnamon, figs and sultanas with red apples and pears. Faint nuttiness.

Finish: Medium to long. Sweet and spicy. Very nice.

So this 15 year old costed me 45 EUR which is a fantastic price for it. I still don't understand why this distillery is so underrated because they produce lovely whisky. But if it stays like this I'm fine with it, price won't skyrocket like hype brand's prices and this will be available always. Solid whisky for the money. 

86 / 100

Glen Moray Heritage 18 years old - Colored, Non-chill filtered, 47.2%

"Overflowing with spice, oaky intensity and caramelised fruit, this single malt whisky is the pride and joy of our Heritage Collection. Aged entirely in American oak casks over 18 long years for a rare intensity, it is the ultimate reflection of our traditional Speyside craft. By using first-fill casks that have not been used for single malt previously, we enhance our spirit with the wood's maximum flavours of vanilla, oak and toffee."

Nose: Quite a full and pleasant aroma. Nougat chocolate, almonds, orange peel. Definitely fruity. Vanilla, coconut, ripe apple, pear, something very slightly floral, pear comes out stronger over time, there might even be some pineapple. 

Taste: Vanilla and apples, pears, honey, citrus sweets, but again like with the nose, all balanced out quite well by the oak which brings it together nicely. Slightly nutty and has a nice seville orange taste to it.

Finish: Spicy at first. White pepper. Cinnamon. Then a trace of fresh fruit. Apples. Then peaches in sweet syrup. Slightly herbal and grassy, lemon cakes, woody spiciness. Long finish.

Overall this is an amazing 18 years old whisky. It's nice to see it for around 90 EUR on the shelves. It's a very good price in my opinion and I strongly suggest you buy a bottle. Fantastic whisky for the price. Undoubtedly a nice sleeper, and it is definitely better than some of the hyped brand whiskys. I will award it a very high 88 / 100.

Quick verdict

I think these cheap whiskies are good whiskies. However this might not be true for a lot of other cheap whiskies. Be careful what you buy for a cheap price, make sure you read before buying. HOWEVER I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU GIVE A CHANCE TO GLEN MORAY.

I've got the Elgin Classic basic Single Malt bottle a few days ago for a bargain, I will review it in a separate post soon. Why? Because I think it deserves a spot alone.

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Check out the points on all the whiskies I've rated and ranked head-to-head over HERE.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. To many more. Sláinte.