Glen Moray has long occupied a quietly confident position in the Speyside landscape — a distillery that tends to get overshadowed by its more famous neighbours but consistently delivers honest, well-made whisky at prices that don't require a second mortgage. Their Peated Speyside Single Malt is something of a curiosity, and I mean that as a compliment. Peat and Speyside are not natural bedfellows. This is a region defined by orchard fruits, honey, and gentle malt character. To introduce peat smoke into that equation is a deliberate choice, and one that signals Glen Moray isn't content to simply stay in its lane.
At 40% ABV and carrying no age statement, this sits firmly in the entry-level bracket. The price point — around £29.50 — puts it in direct competition with a crowded field of NAS single malts, many of which play it safe. What sets this apart is the concept itself. Peated Speyside whiskies remain relatively uncommon. You're far more likely to encounter peat from Islay or the Highlands, so there's genuine interest in what a Speyside distillery does when it reaches for the phenols.
What to Expect
Without confirmed tasting notes to draw from, I'll speak to the style. A peated Speyside malt at this strength is unlikely to deliver the full maritime assault of an Islay dram. What you should expect is something more restrained — peat used as seasoning rather than the main course. The underlying Speyside character should still come through: that cereal sweetness, a certain lightness of body. The smoke acts as a counterpoint, adding depth and a savoury dimension that the standard Glen Moray range doesn't offer. Think of it as a conversation between two traditions rather than one drowning out the other.
The 40% ABV is worth noting. It's the legal minimum for Scotch, and I won't pretend I wouldn't have preferred to see this at 43% or 46%. A few extra percentage points would give the peat more room to breathe and lend the palate greater texture. That said, at this price, compromises are expected, and the decision to bottle at 40% keeps this accessible to drinkers who might be peat-curious but not yet committed.
The Verdict
I'm giving this a 7.7 out of 10, and I'm comfortable with that score. This is a genuinely interesting whisky at a genuinely fair price. It won't rewrite your understanding of peat, and it's not trying to. What it does is offer a different angle on a familiar distillery — a Speyside single malt with a bit of backbone and a willingness to try something outside the regional playbook. For anyone who enjoys Speyside character but occasionally wishes it had a touch more weight and complexity, this is well worth picking up. It also makes an excellent introduction for drinkers who want to explore peated whisky without jumping straight into the deep end of Islay.
The value proposition is strong. Under thirty pounds for a peated single malt from a reputable Speyside producer is hard to argue with, and Glen Moray's track record for clean, well-constructed spirit gives me confidence that the base whisky here is solid.
Best Served
I'd recommend this neat at room temperature first, to get a proper read on how the peat integrates with the malt. After that, try it with a small splash of water — five or six drops — which should open up the smoke and let the sweeter Speyside notes push forward. This also works surprisingly well as a Highball. The peat gives it enough structure to stand up to carbonation and ice without losing its identity, making it a genuinely versatile bottle to keep on hand.
