If Glen Moray's Chardonnay Cask Finish represents the lighter end of its wine-finishing experiments, the Cabernet Cask Finish sits at the opposite pole. Cabernet Sauvignon is among the most tannic and structured of red wine grapes, and casks that have held it tend to impart a noticeably drier, more astringent character than the Port or sherry wood also employed in the Classic range.
The whisky is, once again, drawn from Glen Moray's standard bourbon-matured Classic before being racked into ex-Cabernet casks for its final period of maturation. The colour deepens towards a rich amber and the nose shifts decisively towards darker fruit, with blackcurrant and dark chocolate joined by cedar and a faint dusting of black pepper. The palate confirms what the nose suggests: bramble fruit and plum skin sit atop a dry oaken frame, and the tannic grip is the most pronounced of any cask in the Classic lineup.
The finish is medium and drying, with cassis and spice trailing off over a minute or so. At 40 per cent it remains an easy pour, but the structural character gives it rather more backbone than might be expected at its price. For drinkers accustomed to sweeter Speysiders it offers a useful point of contrast, and for those who enjoy the drier end of the wine-cask spectrum it represents genuine value. Glen Moray does not make ambitious claims for this bottling, and none are required; it does its job with quiet competence.
