Glen Moray has stood on the banks of the River Lossie in Elgin since 1897, occupying the site of an earlier brewery. For much of the twentieth century it was a reliable component of Glenmorangie's blends, and since 2008 it has been owned by La Martiniquaise. Under that French ownership the distillery has pursued a policy of affordable single malts finished in a rotating cast of wine casks, of which the Sherry Cask Finish is perhaps the most traditional.
The whisky begins life as the Classic, Glen Moray's entry-level bourbon-matured malt, before being transferred to ex-Oloroso sherry casks for a secondary maturation. The result is bottled at the standard 40 per cent and priced at a level that undercuts most of its Speyside neighbours. It is, in other words, an unapologetically commercial dram, but one that delivers considerably more than its modest price suggests.
On the nose there is raisin, milk chocolate and orange peel, with the Oloroso influence evident but not overpowering. The palate carries sultana, toffee and baked apple, supported by a walnut note that speaks of proper sherry wood rather than mere dosage. The finish is medium in length, nutty and warming, with the dried fruit persisting pleasantly.
This is not a whisky that will trouble the serious collector, nor does it pretend to. It is an honest, approachable Speyside malt that demonstrates what careful cask selection can achieve at the entry tier. For those beginning their journey into sherried whisky, it offers a gentle introduction at a price that permits experimentation without regret.
