Glen Moray Hand Bottled at the Distillery 10 Years Old 2008

A 10 year old Glen Moray, a distillery bottling, from 2008, cask 1164, at 58.6%. Glen Moray is a fruity Speyside malt made on River Lossie water at Elgin. It was founded in 1897 in the converted Elgin West Brewery, on the banks of the River Lossie.

The spirit was run through the stills on River Lossie water for a light make, giving a clean, sweet Speyside spirit. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the light fruit lead. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper apple and pear. A pioneer of wine cask finishing, Glen Moray has long layered fruit over its light malt. It was built on Gallow Hill at Elgin, the old site of the town's hangings. Its make is a key malt in the Cutty Sark and Label 5 blends. The clean, fruity spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit to the fore.

At its natural 58.6% it is concentrated. A clean, fruity sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The texture is light and clean, the fruit lifted by vanilla. Apple, pear and a soft oak see out the finish. This is a Speyside single malt of real value.