Glen Moray 1991 Master of Malt Review

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside

Brand: Glen Moray 1991 (Master of Malt)

Type: Single Cask Single Malt Whisky

Age: 21 Years

ABV: 60.7%

Colour: Pale Gold

Nose: Given the Age and the ABV it is obvious that Oak and Alcohol are quite present. The Spirit is also Creamy and Malty. I find Floral Tones, Orchard Fruit, Nectarine, Tangerine, Grapefruit Juice, Butter, Barley Sugar, Raisins, Custard, Toffee, Wood Spice, Bourbon, Wax and hints of Menthol, Apple Vinegar and Varnish. 

The Malt Bins at Glen Moray

Taste: Fiery and Mouthwatering as was to be expected with Oak, Nuts, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger, Cardamom, Citrus, Pear, Peanut Butter, Stewed Apples, Malt, Toffee, Butter and Menthol.  

The Mash Tun at Glen Moray

Finish: Solid Finish with Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Walnuts, Malt, Menthol, Lemon and Poached Pears. Quite Dry in the end.

Wash Back #4 at Glen Moray

I added a bit of Water and that tames the Alcohol of course. Dried Apricot, Malt and Butter now dominate the Nose. The Floral Tones are enhanced as well. The 
Palate and Finish do not change a lot but it's just easier to drink the Spirit this way. Still, this Glen Moray shows its real character only when you drink it neat.

Rating: 85.5  

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21 – Finish: 21 – Overall: 21.5 

These Casks Had Just Been Delivered

General Remarks: The Glen Moray 1991 Master of Malt was distilled on the 2nd of July 1991 and matured in a Refill Hogshead with Cask # 5661. A total of 260 bottles were filled in April 2013. This Single Malt was bottled at Cask Strength, is Uncoloured and Non Chill-Filtered. It is priced at around 130 US Dollars.

Some of the Stills at Glen Moray

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: Let me start by saying that the Glen Moray 1991 is a good Single Malt. As it should be at this price level although it's not too expensive when you consider its age. I like the Nose neat although you have to wind your way through the waves of strong Alcohol. But I must also say that I had expected more complexity and diversity after 21 long years in the Cask. Given the high ABV I would assume that most people would want to add a little Water. But once you do that, there's not too much to discover any more. Apricot, Malt and Butter on the Nose and Oak, Spices, Citrus and Menthol on the Palate and in the Finish. Not all that much for a 21 old Single Malt that will set you back around 130 US Dollars. So while I enjoyed Nosing and Tasting the sample, I would not consider buying a full bottle of this Glen Moray.

Another Pair of Stills

Some Data: The name Glen Moray means "The Glen of the Sea Settlement".  It's located at Bruceland Road in Elgin (Morayshire). The Distillery that was founded in 1897 is currently expanding and at the end of this year will possess 1 Mash Tun, 21 stainless Steel Wash Backs and 6 pairs of Stills. With all this equipment Glen Moray will be able to produce 6,5 million litres annually. Since 2008 the distillery belongs to the French Group La Martiniquaise. No wonder that France is currently one of Glen Moray's main markets. In the past, Glen Moray spirit was mainly used in Blends like Label 5 but under the new owners efforts are made to present Glen Moray as a Single Malt as well. The new visitor centre,  gift shop, coffee shop and tasting area were opened in 2004.

We visited Glen Moray in May 2014

The water for the distillery is sourced from a well by the River Lossie. Glen Moray is open to the public All Year except with Christmas and New Year. The opening hours are from Monday to Friday (9.00 to 17.00) and from May to September also on Saturdays from 10.00 to 16.30. The Standard Tour costs 3 Pounds. An in-depth Connoisseurs Tour called "Fifth Chapter" costs 15 pounds. Pre-Booking for the latter is necessary.

Some Promising Casks in the Warehouse

We visited Glen Moray on Wednesday, May 21 2014. The weather that day was cloudy with the occasional rain. We did the Standard Tour and really enjoyed it. Our guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. After the tour we enjoyed a very cheerful Tasting Session where we sampled the 8, 12 and 16 Years as well as a young peated expression. A tasteful Soup of the Day in the coffee shop closed up our pleasant visit to Glen Moray. I can certainly recommend a visit to this distillery. 

We Tasted Several Expressions After The Tour

And Had a Nice Soup of the Day in the Distillery Shop

Jan van den Ende                                                           January 13, 2015

Allt-A-Bhainne 1991 Signatory Review

“A Question of Balance”

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside

Brand: Allt-A-Bhainne 1991 (Signatory Vintage) - Cask Strength Selection

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 21 Years

ABV: 55 % 

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Sweet Ripe Fruit like Mango and Pineapple. But also the specific Dutch treat "Beschuit Met Muisjes" (See Picture Below). It's a sort of Crispy Biscuit with Aniseed Topping. It's mainly served to celebrate the birth of a Son (Blue and White) or Daughter (Pink and White). Some Honey and Vanilla as well. The Alcohol is not totally integrated and stings a bit so be sure to give this Malt time to open up. With time, the Pineapple gets stronger and stronger and is now accompanied by Banana Ice Cream, Bread Dough and Orange. I'm not quite convinced by the Quality of the Cask. In all those long 21 years, it did not add a lot to the Aroma of the Spirit. Bitter Almonds mostly. This Bitterness and the Alcohol spoil some of the Nosing fun I'm afraid. A pity really! 

Beschuit Met Muisjes

Palate: Less Sweet than I expected after the Nose. Quite Punchy and Herbal actually. I find Orange Juice, Lemon, Herbal Tea, Vanilla, Banana, Mango, Oak, Caramel/Toffee, Honey, Pepper and Cinnamon. A hint of Tobacco as well.

Finish: Long, Sweet, Sour, Spicy and, unfortunately, quite Bitter towards the end with Malt, Orange (Juice), Toffee, Banana, Lemon, Honey, Heather, Grass, Oak and Herbal Tea.

With a bit of Water the Alcohol retreats of course and that's a good thing. On the Palate and in the Finish, Spices and Herbs starts to dominate. My advise is to Nose and Taste this Allt-A-Bhainne both Neat and with a bit of Water.

Rating: 84

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21

The Allt-A-Bhainne Distillery!

General Remarks: This Allt-A-Bhainne was distilled on the 9th of July 1991 and was bottled on the 6th of October 2012. It matured in a Ex-Bourbon Hogshead (#90114). All Casks for the Cask Strength Selection Series are individually selected and bottled by Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co.Ltd, from Pitlochry, Scotland. This particular Allt-A-Bhainne costs around 100 US Dollars. This recent distillery was founded in 1975 by Chivas Brothers, bought by Pernod Ricard in 2001. Most of the spirit goes into Blends, some is bottled as Single Malt under the name Deerstalker and some casks are bought by Independent bottlers.

Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co.Ltd. is an independent bottler, founded in 1988 by Andrew - and Brian Symington. In 2002 they bought the Edradour Distillery.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: The Spirit of Allt-A-Bhainne is Nervous but Fruity and Pleasant. But in my opinion it needs First Class Wood to interact. And I don't think that's the case here. I believe this was a Refill Cask and it did not gave enough Aromas and Flavours to the Spirit. On the contrary, it added a certain Bitterness I could easily live without. The Allt-A-Bhainne 1991 is not a bad Single Malt but it does not deliver sufficiently to justify its price. I did like the Spirit however and I will try to find other Indie expressions.   

Jan van den Ende                                                            August 26, 2014

Cragganmore 1989 Review

“A Crisp Summer Dram”

Country: Scotland 

Region: Speyside

Brand: Cragganmore 1989 (Mo Or Release # 27)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age:  21 Years

ABV: 46%

Date: 08/06/2014

Colour: Chardonnay

Nose: It's hard to believe I'm tasting a 21 year old Single Malt! The Nose is very Malty, Floral and Fresh and the Wood influence is very restrained. I find Juicy Toasted Sweet Barley, Grass, Straw, Heather, light Honey, Wet Stone, light Vanilla, Lemon, Orange or Grapefruit, light Coconut, Pear Drops and Herbs. Quite uncomplicated really. The Alcohol is nicely integrated.

The Lauter Mash Tun at Cragganmore!

Palate: Slightly more Edgy than the soft Nose would indicate. Quite Citrusy as well with Lemon, Orange and Grapefruit. As on the Nose I find relatively little Cask influence. Only light Oak, light Vanilla and light Spices. I do find quite a lot of Mint, as well as some Marzipan, Toffee, light Honey, Heather, Herbs and Malt.  

The Wash Backs at Cragganmore!

Finish: Middle-Long, Sweet and Sour with Grass, Citrus (mainly Lemon), Herbs, Mint, light Licorice, Oak, light Nutmeg and light Pepper.

The Stills at Cragganmore!

Added Water does not improve this Cragganmore. Enjoy it neat!

Rating: 84.5

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21

Warehouses at Cragganmore!

General Remarks: The Cragganmore Distillery is located in the Spey Valley close to the A 95. It was founded in 1869 by John Smith. Today it is owned by Diageo and lots of Cragganmore go into Blends like Old Parr and White Horse. The Single Malt I'm tasting today is a Single Cask Expression from The Whisky Talker/Mo Or (Gaelic for My Gold). It was distilled on the 14th of November, 1989 and bottled on the 14th of March, 2011. The whisky matured in a Bourbon Hogshead (Cask # 2840). A total of 395 bottles was reserved for the Mo Or Collection. It's priced at around 135 US Dollars per 50 Cl bottle. The Whisky Talker is an Independent Bottler from the Netherlands.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: I had expected a complicated Single Malt considering 21 years of Cask time. But instead I find a relatively light, fresh, crisp Summer Dram with lots of Floral tones, Herbs (Mint) and Citrus. Excellent choice for an Aperitif on a warm Summer day. A bit expensive though!

Part of the Distillery Complex!

The Cragganmore Distillery.

Some Data: The Cragganmore Distillery is located in Ballindalloch, Moray, not far from Glenfarclas. It was founded in 1869 by John Smith. Nowadays it is owned by Diageo. Lots of Cragganmore spirit disappear in Blends like Old Parr, Haig and White Horse. It was also one of the 4 Single Malts in the late JW Green. The Distillery possesses a large stainless steel Mash Tun, 6 Wash Backs (Oregon Pine) and two pairs of Wash/Spirit Stills. In 2013 they produced 2,2 million litres. Cragganmore means Big Rock. The water for the distillery is sourced from the nearby Corries Springs. The Distillery is open from April to October (Monday - Friday 10.00 to 16.00). There are 3 Tours, the Standard Tour at 4 pounds, the Premium tour at 8 pounds and the Connoisseurs tour at 16 pounds.

Cragganmore Visitor Centre!

We visited Cragganmore on Friday May 23, 2014. It was raining cats and dogs. We opted for the Standard Tour and were lucky! We were the only two visitors at that time and got ourselves a private Tour. Our hostess was knowledgeable but had a bit of an Off-Day that included regular yawning caused (in her own words) by temperature changes. 

Inside a Warehouse at Cragganmore!

We did have the chance however to talk a bit to the Warehouse chap and make a few pictures. We also enjoyed a pleasant Tasting session in a very cosy old room. The drams included the 12 Years and the Port Finished DE. 

A " Cosy" Tasting Session!

Jan van den Ende                                                                 June 2014