While doing research for my Best Speyside Whisky blog post, I realised it had been far too long since I last tried a Glen Moray whisky. I have previously tasted the standard Glen Moray as well as the Port Cask expression. They made me realise that this is a seriously underrated Speyside distillery. As I was also in the mood for something peated, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to open a bottle of Glen Moray Peated single malt Scotch whisky.
If you enjoy whisky with a touch of smoke but find some heavily peated expressions a little too intense, this could be a bottle worth exploring.
Glen Moray Distillery
The Glen Moray distillery is located on the banks of the River Lossie in Elgin, in the heart of Scotland’s Speyside whisky region. It is a distillery with a long history, although whisky was not what the site originally produced.
The distillery began life as the West Brewery. Then in 1897, Robert Thorne & Sons converted the site into a whisky distillery. Glen Moray closed in 1910 and was eventually acquired by the MacDonald and Muir families in the 1920s.
In 2004, the MacDonald and Muir families sold Glen Moray to LVMH. Just four years later, in 2008, LVMH sold the distillery to La Martiniquaise, which remains its owner today.
Glen Moray’s whisky is also used as a component in blended Scotch whisky, including brands such as Cutty Sark and Label 5 blended whisky, alongside spirit produced at La Martiniquaise’s Starlaw distillery in West Lothian.
Over the years, Glen Moray has developed a reputation for experimenting with different cask types and finishes. The range includes expressions matured in Sherry casks, the Phoenix Rising, which uses heavily charred oak casks, and the Forbidden Fruit Calvados Cask.
The Glen Moray Peated Edition is matured in ex-bourbon barrels and is peated to approximately 14–20 ppm. This puts it firmly in the peated whisky category. However, the experience in the glass is considerably softer and more restrained than the numbers might suggest. It has no age statement.
Also Read: Springbank 18 year old Whisky
Glen Moray Peated Whisky Review
ABV:43%
REGION: Speyside
COLOUR: Pale gold
NOSE: The nose opens with soft, earthy peat smoke, reminiscent of burning heather on a Highland hillside. This is a very different style of peat from the maritime, medicinal character often associated with Islay whisky. Underneath the smoke are notes of creamy honey, sweet malt, vanilla, and fresh orange.
There is also a subtle green, almost grassy note in the background that adds a little freshness. The overall impression is gentle, sweet and approachable rather than heavily smoky.
PALATE: The palate is elegant and soft, with gentle green peat smoke sitting alongside vanilla custard and freshly baked, buttery sugar biscuits. There are hints of summer fruit, followed by nutmeg and a touch of pepper. The peat and smoke are noticeable from the very beginning, but they remain restrained, gently underscoring the sweeter flavours rather than dominating the whisky.
There is very little harshness here, making the Glen Moray Peated surprisingly easy to sip neat. I finished my first glass without adding any water. I added a few drops to my second glass, and it was interesting to see how it opened up more of the fruit and malt character.
FINISH: The finish is unfortunately on the short side. Light pepper, creamy honey sweetness, baking spice and a gentle touch of peat linger briefly before fading away. It is not a long, powerful finish, but it is pleasant and leaves you ready for another sip.
RATING: VERY GOOD
What a lovely little sipper. The combination of soft peat smoke and fruity Speyside character works remarkably well. If you are looking to explore peated whisky but are not ready to jump straight into a heavily smoky Islay dram, Glen Moray Peated makes a very approachable starting point.
This expression takes the light, sweet, easy-drinking characteristics I associate with Glen Moray and gives them a smoky twist. The result is a whisky that offers enough peat to make things interesting without allowing the smoke to overwhelm the underlying malt and fruit.
Final Thoughts
This is not the most complex Glen Moray Scotch whisky I have tasted, and I suspect it is relatively young. However, when you consider the price point and just how easy-drinking this single malt is, I am certainly not complaining. In fact, I will definitely be restocking this bottle when it is finished.
The Glen Moray Peated Edition would make a great everyday dram. It is perfect for whisky drinkers who enjoy a little smoke without wanting an intense peat bomb. It should also work well in whisky cocktails, where the gentle smoke could add another layer of flavour without overpowering the other ingredients.
For an affordable, approachable and slightly smoky Speyside single malt, Glen Moray Peated is well worth a look. I have spotted it on Amazon.
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Also Read: Sullivans Cove Double Cask Whisky
