Country: Scotland
Brand: Glen Moray
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Region: Speyside
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 40%
Colour: Amber
Nose: Not as crisp as the 8 years. Quite Speyside though with Minerals and Floral tones like Heather and a light hint of Peat. I also find Toffee, Malt, Oak, Lemon and Vanilla. Fruity tones are present but in a more subdued way. I get a bit of Orange, Pear and Cocoa.
Taste: Medium-Sweet to Sweet. Slightly Watery delivery with Malt, Oak, Vanilla, Sugared Tea, Wood Spices and Toffee.
Finish: Medium-Long with Spices (Black Pepper and Ginger), Nuts, Licorice, Malt, Toffee and Oak.
I added a few drops of Water and the Nose becomes a bit more Malty and Fruity (Orange, Apricot, Peach). But taste wise I can't find any significant improvements. If anything, the dram becomes more Sugary Sweet.
Rating: 79
Nose: 20 - Taste: 20- Finish: 19.5 - Overall: 19.5
General Remarks: The Glen Moray-Glenlivet distillery is located close to the city of Elgin, the capital of the Moray region. Glen Moray whiskies have been distilled there since 1897. The Elgin region is known for excellent malting Barley and a mild climate. The Glen Moray is matured in American Oak Casks and stored in traditional low roofed warehouses that are said to maintain the well-rounded characteristics of this spirit. The distillery is owned since 2008 by La Martiniquaise from France.
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay
Conclusion: I don't know about you but I like young Speysides. They are light and crisp and the Floral, Lemon and light Fruit Tones (Pear) aptly qualify them as a very nice Aperitif. They taste great with a bit of Ice on a warm summer day. That's why I like a.o. the Glen Moray 8. It's not a great and complex whisky but it has all of these simple, yet effective qualities. With 4 extra years of American Oak, the Glen Moray 12 is more subdued and frankly a bit boring. While it does not show any significant progress in complexity, it looses quite a bit of the crispy and fruity youth that makes the 8 attractive as an Aperitif. I'm sure this Single Malt would be a lot more interesting when bottled at say 46%. Like the 8 Years, the Glen Moray 12 years is not very expensive. I paid 35 US Dollars at the Duty Free Shop in Argentina. Still, I don't see me buying the 12 again. Not because it's a bad whisky. But because it does not quite qualify as an Aperitif and it's too simple as a to-go-to sipping dram.
Jan van den Ende October 30, 2012
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