Serendipity 12 Years Old

Serendipity 12 Years Old is a blended malt Scotch from an independent bottler. It vats single malts from more than one distillery, Glen Moray among them. Its make is a key malt in the Cutty Sark and Label 5 blends.

The Glen Moray within gives a green apple and a soft vanilla. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a light vanilla and a soft honey. The accessible, fruity make is the base for the distillery's many cask finishes. It was built on Gallow Hill at Elgin, the old site of the town's hangings. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation in the Glen Moray warehouses at Elgin. Most of its malt matures first in American oak ex-Bourbon before any cask finish. It was a pioneer of wine cask finishing, working with Chardonnay casks back in the 1990s. Long ageing turns the fresh apple towards dried fruit, honey and a soft spice. Refill oak lets the light, fruity Glen Moray character lead the way.

At 40% it is light and soft. Green apple, vanilla and a soft honey run through it, light and fresh. The mouthfeel is light, the fruit carried on a clean body. The finish is rounded, fruity and clean. A characterful blended malt Scotch.