Port finishing in Scotch whisky is a relatively modern practice, pioneered in the 1990s and now commonplace across the industry. Glen Moray, ever willing to experiment within the bounds of its accessible pricing, adopted the technique early and the Port Cask Finish has become a mainstay of its Classic range. The malt is drawn from first-fill bourbon casks and decanted into ex-Port pipes from Portugal for a final period of maturation.
The colour, as one might expect, is a deep rose-gold that betrays the wood's influence before the glass reaches the nose. Aromas of red berries, strawberry jam and vanilla dominate, with a faint floral note that suggests the fortified wine has not been scrubbed from the staves. On the palate the fruit carries through as raspberry and plum, buttressed by a creamy vanilla inherited from the bourbon cask and a light tannic grip from the Port. The finish is medium in length and fruity, drying gently as it fades.
Bottled at 40 per cent, this is not a dram of great power or complexity. Its merits lie in balance and accessibility. The Port influence is evident but not aggressive, the bourbon base is legible beneath it, and the price remains firmly in entry-level territory. For drinkers curious about wine-cask finishes without wishing to commit serious sums to the experiment, Glen Moray offers perhaps the most honest and least hyperbolic introduction on the market.
