Glen Moray 18 Years Old Elgin Heritage (47.2%, OB, 2017)

Whisky Review

• Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: Glen Moray Distillery
• Bottling: La Martiniquaise
• ABV: 47.2%
• Cost: ~ £80

What they say:

Glen Moray master distiller Graham Coull said: “Glen Moray’s Elgin Heritage Collection has been carefully matured to create a smooth, sweet character combined with subtle oak flavours.

“Our unique Speyside climate gently influences these whiskies to produce a well-rounded character and complex finish.”

The Glen Moray 18-year old expression was matured in American oak casks and contains fruits with vanilla

What I say:

Another sample received during our visit to Glen Moray Distillery was their yet to launch 18 Year Old expression, along with the 15 and a Chardonnay finished 12 year old expression (to replace the superb but now/soon to be discontinued 10 Year Old Chardonnay Cask expression). This has been matured solely in American oak ex-bourbon casks.

Colour:

Dark/burnished gold (11/20), medium tears and fine legs

Nose:

Buttery and slightly dusty/floury – like preparing Scones, cocoa powder, woody spices, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon, some light fruitcake/Dundee cake

Taste:

Medium-heavy bodied, cocoa and spice initially, butterscotch, toffee and caramel, malty cereal barley, cinnamon, nutmeg, a little clove and allspice too, rich oak wood, freshly scraped vanilla pods, apple strudel or cobbler, Dundee cake, a touch of citrusy orange peel or candied peel

Finish:

Long, gently spiced cinnamon toffee apples

Overall:

Excellent, tasted alongside the 15 year old which I thought was a superb whisky, this 18 is quietly understated and just oozes rich old oak wood and a gentle but wide variety of woody spice elements across the palate, again a malty core and touch of fruit are here too.

Score: 89/100

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