Glen Moray Elgin Classic (40%)

A Glen Moray, a distillery bottling, at 40%. Glen Moray, founded in 1897 in a former brewery, is one of Speyside's best loved malts. It is known for excellent value, with age statements priced more keenly than most.

Run through the stills on River Lossie water for a light make, for a light, easy spirit with a soft malt. Maturation finished in an Oloroso cask, layered over the light Glen Moray make. Without an age statement, vanillin sweetness and an orchard fruit point to good years in oak. A pioneer of wine cask finishing, Glen Moray has long layered fruit over its light malt. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. Its make is a key malt in the Cutty Sark and Label 5 blends. It closed in 1910 and reopened in 1923 under Macdonald and Muir of Glenmorangie. River Lossie water and the tall stills give the light Glen Moray make. The light spirit suits a wide range of cask finishes, from sherry to rum.

Reduced to 40%, it is mellow. Pear, honey and a soft malt, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Pear, honey and a creamy toffee fill the middle. The finish runs light, fruity and clean. This is the easy, fruity malt of Elgin.