Glen Moray has been distilling in Elgin since 1897, converted from a brewery on the banks of the River Lossie. It has long been one of Speyside's more affordable and accessible distilleries, producing a clean, malty spirit that serves as both a reliable entry-level single malt and a useful blending component. The Classic Peated expression is an attempt to add variety to the range by introducing peat — an unusual choice for a Speyside distillery, though by no means unprecedented.
The peat level here is modest, and the result is a whisky that tastes less like a peated malt and more like a regular Glen Moray with a smoky seasoning. At 40%, the smoke lacks the intensity to make a genuine impression, drifting across the palate like distant bonfire smoke rather than commanding attention. The underlying Glen Moray character — clean, sweet, malty — remains dominant throughout.
Glen Moray Classic Peated is an inexpensive way to explore what light peat does to a Speyside malt, and for that purpose it serves adequately. But it occupies an awkward middle ground — too smoky for drinkers who prefer their Speyside unpeated, too gentle for those who seek the full force of peated whisky. At its price point it offers fair value as an everyday dram, but it is difficult to imagine anyone developing a passionate attachment to it. A competent experiment rather than a compelling whisky.
