Glen Moray 1998 PX Finish (47.2%, OB, 2018)

• Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: Glen Moray Distillery
• Bottling: Glen Moray Distillery Cask Sample
• ABV: 47.2%
• Cost: n/a

What they say

19 years 0 months old (19 years old!) with 3 years and  4 months in a PX Sherry cask. As Glen Moray’s Master Blender Graham Coull stated ” I reduced some 1998 Glen Moray to 50% before filling it into the PX. I was interested to see how the lower abv would affect the flavour”

What I say

Sampled during the #GlenMoray Tweet Tasting hosted by Steve @TheWhiskyWire  and Glen Moray’s Master Distiller Graham Coull @GlenMorayGCoull on 24th January 2018.

Distilled in 1998 at Glen Moray and matured in an ex-bourbon cask for just under 16 years before being reduced to 50% ABV and finished for 3 years and 4 months in Pedro Ximenez sherry cask #99913, sampled at 19 years old total.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Amber gold (9/20)
• Nose: Rich and deep, hazelnut puree and pickled walnuts, chocolate, suede leather, tannic, new leather shoes, raisin, prune and fig
• Taste: Demerara sugar, candied nuts, menthol, Fishermen’s friends, reminds me of a mint julep, some further sweetness of dried fig jam, has an air of hazelnut latte about it.
• Finish: Long, syrupry dates, figs, hazelnuts & pecans, espresso coffee

Overall

I like it, quite subtle as far as PX finishes go, very sippable. I suspect the reduced ABV going into the PX casks has subtly coaxed the PX elements out of the wood rather than strip it out as fast as possible like most finishes would.

The resulting whisky didn’t hit me as a “sherry bomb” like some of the other tasters were ‘suggesting’ or inferring? Rather as others stated it was a muted PX which allowed the distillery character to shine through.

Masterfully constructed and possibly my favourite of the evening.

Score 88/100

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