Glen Moray 8 Years Old 2013 Cask #889 (A.D. Rattray)

This Glen Moray was bottled by A.D. Rattray, an 8 year old, distilled in 2013, from cask 889, bottled at 63.6%, one of 281 bottles. Glen Moray, founded in 1897 in a former brewery, is one of Speyside's best loved malts. Its make is a key malt in the Cutty Sark and Label 5 blends.

The spirit was made on River Lossie water and condensed in shell and tube condensers, for a light, easy spirit with a soft malt. A Sauternes cask shaped the finish, over the fruity Glen Moray spirit. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and oak lactones as coconut over bright green apple and pear. The accessible, fruity make is the base for the distillery's many cask finishes. Long ageing turns the fresh apple towards dried fruit, honey and a soft spice. A pioneer of wine cask finishing, Glen Moray has long layered fruit over its light malt.

At 63.6%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. A light, orchard fruit and toffee, with honeyed apricot and a candied citrus from the cask. Pear, honey and a creamy toffee fill the middle. The close is light and clean, fruit over a gentle oak. This is a Speyside single malt of real value.