Glen Moray has long occupied a quietly confident position among Speyside's single malts — never the loudest voice in the room, but reliably well-made and, crucially, accessible. This Peated expression, bundled here with a glass set that makes it a straightforward gift option, represents something of a departure from the distillery's traditionally unpeated house style. It's a move that raises an eyebrow, but one I find genuinely worthwhile.
Peated Speyside malts remain relatively uncommon. The region built its reputation on elegance, fruit, and gentle malt sweetness — not smoke. When a Speyside distillery reaches for peat, it tends to do so with restraint rather than aggression, and that's precisely what Glen Moray have done here. This isn't an Islay pretender. It's a Speyside malt with a smoky undertone, and that distinction matters. At 40% ABV and without an age statement, expectations should be calibrated accordingly — this is an entry-level expression designed to introduce drinkers to peated whisky without overwhelming them.
The NAS designation and minimum bottling strength do suggest this is a younger spirit, and at £36.25, the pricing reflects that honestly. What you're getting is a well-constructed introduction to smoke within a familiar Speyside framework. Glen Moray's distillate has always carried a clean, cereal-forward character, and layering peat over that foundation creates something approachable rather than challenging. It's the kind of whisky I'd hand to someone who's curious about smoke but intimidated by the full-bodied intensity of, say, a Laphroaig or Ardbeg.
Tasting Notes
I'll reserve detailed tasting notes for a future update once I've had the opportunity to sit with this one across several sessions. What I will say is that the peated character here is gentle and well-integrated — this is smoke as seasoning, not as the main course. The Speyside DNA remains firmly in the driving seat.
The Verdict
At £36.25 with a glass set included, this is difficult to argue with on value alone. Glen Moray have produced a peated expression that doesn't abandon its Speyside identity, and that takes a degree of skill. The 40% ABV is the one area where I'd push back — a few extra percentage points would likely give this whisky more texture and presence on the palate. It's a common frustration with entry-level bottlings, and it keeps this from scoring higher.
That said, a 7.5 out of 10 reflects genuine quality at this price point. This is a solid, honest dram that does exactly what it sets out to do: offer an accessible gateway into peated whisky. The included glassware sweetens an already fair deal. For anyone building out their whisky collection or looking for a gift that won't gather dust on a shelf, this ticks the right boxes.
Best Served
Pour it neat and let it breathe for five minutes. If the smoke feels forward, add a small splash of room-temperature water — it tends to open up the underlying malt sweetness nicely. This also works well in a Highball with good soda water; the peat gives it enough backbone to hold its own against carbonation, making it a surprisingly effective long drink for warmer evenings.
