The fifth of nine whiskies at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS") June 2022 Outturn tasting at the Jack Rose Saloon on Sunday, June 5th. I love a good Glen Moray, which is known for delectable and rather sweet offerings. This has a very unusual two-year shaved/toasted/rechar ex-first-fill Pedro Ximenez sherry cask finish after a dozen years in ex-bourbon, and was a big winner among all the conversations I overheard at the event.
Here are the official notes:
The nose opened with toasty wood embers, winter spices, fig jam, date chutney and a generously warm and inviting spiciness. On top of that we found cassis liqueur, herbal cough mixtures and treacle tart. Reduction brought greengage jam, miso, olive oil, hessian and cinnamon liqueur. A rich seam of dunnage earthiness and walnut oil. The palate was firm and spicy, lots of rosewood shavings, fir liqueur, ancient herbal bitters, Jägerbomb and spiced cherry jam. Water unearthed raspberry ripple ice cream, buttered crumpets, Lapsing Souchong, paprika and stem ginger. Matured in a bourbon hogshead for 12 years before being transferred to a first fill PX seasoned STR barrique.
How interesting! Embers, fig/date chutney, spices... cough syrup, miso, olive oil (!) ... rosewood shavings! Jagerbomb! Smoked tea! Well, let's get down to it. Bottled at an astoundingly high 64.9% ABV, and with the curious nickname "A Quick Witted Dovetail":
Nose: Yowza, dried figs, dates, dusty raisins, lots of spice (soft ginger), thick thick veins of sulfur and rough raw leather, sugar cookies, lots of miscellaneous herbs. With a splash of water, the sweetness here basically doubles and the classic Glen Moray signature shines through. There is also a faint smoke here, no doubt from the rechar.
Mouthfeel: Big, mammoth mouthfeel - due probably to the massive alcohol content.
Palate: Silky and balanced flavors of sweets and herbs. Cookie dough ice cream mixes with dunnage and earth, green jam, raisins, and distinctive olive oil. Rich, and very big in the mouth because of the alcohol pop. Demerara sugar. Hints of light stone fruit - peach, apricot. And more of the very light smoke. Sulfur in waves... a real sherry bomb and a full showcase of the Glen Moray capabilities.
Finish: Very nice smoked tea note, baking spices (ginger, clove), oak, and refined sugar. Very nice.
Verdict: Another lovely Glen Moray from SMWS. This was a big win for me - lots of big jumbo sweetness, but rounded off by natural age and the STR sherry cask finish and all the interesting notes those bring. Highly recommended.
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