Glen Moray has today (15th July) unveiled three new limited edition ‘wine-finish’ expressions for its annual Distillery Edition release – which this year will be available to buy through a ‘Distillery dial-in’ service, especially for fans who can’t visit the whisky’s Elgin home in person.
Whisky enthusiasts will be keen to get their hands on the trio of single cask malts – the oldest wine-finished whiskies the Distillery has ever released, each one bursting with the flavours of full maturation in hand-selected Chardonnay, Burgundy and Chenin Blanc casks respectively.
The Distillery Edition is usually reserved exclusively for Distillery visitors, and isn’t sold in shops or online. Whilst Glen Moray is re-opening to visitors today, the team is aware that the ongoing effects of lockdown mean some may not be able to make the trip.
To ensure whisky fans don’t miss out, Glen Moray will offer personal phone consultations over peak visitor season in July and August, where four members of their team – all with a serious passion for whisky – will guide callers through the range, make recommendations, answer questions and take orders in person.
Brand Ambassador and Distillery Visitor Centre Manager Iain Allan will lead the effort alongside Hannah Levy (Assistant Manager), Ieva Hancock (Visitor Centre Assistant) and Laurie-May Macdonald (Café Supervisor). Iain came up with the idea as a contrast to all the virtual, online whisky events that have been taking place during lockdown, and as a way to deliver a personal touch during the buying process. He commented:
‘Buying a bottle of Glen Moray from our annual Distillery Edition is as much about the experience of a visit to the Distillery as it is about buying a wonderful new whisky. For the many people who would normally make the trip and take away one of these special bottles, we wanted to find a way to make the range available but avoid making it just a basic transaction over email or the internet. Everyone working at the Distillery enjoys nothing more than talking about whisky with fellow enthusiasts, answering questions and sharing behind the scenes stories of how Glen Moray is made. So if you can’t make the visit in person this year, please just pick up the phone and dial our distillery team.’
The three expressions in the 2020 Distillery Edition range have been fully matured in ex-wine casks for between 16 and 17 years, after being laid down between 2003 and 2004 in the Distillery’s Warehouse 1 – home to Glen Moray’s curious casks and maturation experiments.
Chardonnay Cask (cask 7670)
Colour: Tawny
Nose: Opens with sweet freshly cut pineapples drizzled in toffee sauce then sprinkled with white pepper. A very sweet and enticing aroma.
Taste: Raspberry jam and freshly buttered warm toast, followed by hints of bubblegum and citrus. A flavour which is subtly complex.
Finish: Drier wood spices coming to the fore and leaving you wanting more.
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70cl |
ABV 58.9%Â |
Price £85 |
Burgundy Cask (cask 213)
Colour: Auburn
Nose: Aromas of almond and marzipan are at the forefront, covering over lighter notes of fresh orange peel and pine resin.
Taste: A first sip brings out flavours of chocolate coated cherries with a slight earthy note hiding in the background. With the slightest drop of water this is allowed to become more pronounced along with a previously hidden tang of lemongrass.
|
70cl |
ABV 60.1% |
Price £85 |
Finish: The grand finale of this whisky is a crescendo of spices filling the palate with a glorious warmth.
Chenin Blanc Cask (cask 341)
Colour: Auburn
Nose: A delightful combination of pear drops and freshly made camomile tea. A robust honeycomb and apple pairing completes the wonderful flavours exuding from the glass.
Taste: Ginger and Seville orange create the opening salvo of a flavour laden explosion on the palate. Tropical fruits mingle with camomile notes, with almonds following the strong opening.
Finish: With all its opening intensity this whisky softly fades into a whisper of ginger, floral hints and a mineral finale.
|
70cl |
ABV 60.3%Â |
Price £85 |
All three expressions are non-chill filtered, bottled at cask strength and with natural colour. They are available to buy at the distillery, or by calling Iain and the team at Glen Moray Distillery to chat or book a phone consultation on 01343 550900, 9am and 5pm.
Glen Moray Distillery will re-open today (Wednesday 15th July), Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm (not weekends) will a full list of health and safety measures in place. Visitors are asked to pre-book tastings and café visits due to limited numbers. Distillery tours are not currently available.
