The Glen Moray 2020 Distillery Edition is here and fans of the Elgin-located Whisky producer are in luck as this year’s they’ve released three unique expressions. The trio of Whiskies are finished in wine casks and comprise: Chardonnay Cask, Burgundy Cask, and Chenin Blanc Cask.
The three single cask bottlings are the oldest wine cask-finished whiskies ever produced by Glen Moray. Matured between 16 and 17 years, the spirits were laid down between 2003 and 2004 in Glen Moray’s Warehouse 1.
The Chardonnay Cask comes in at 58.9% ABV and has a nose of “sweet freshly cut pineapples drizzled in toffee sauce then sprinkled with white pepper”. While the palate delivers raspberry jam and freshly buttered warm toast, followed by hints of bubblegum and citrus.
The Burgundy Cask comes in at 60.1% ABV and presents a nose with aromas of almond and marzipan, along with notes of fresh orange peel and pine resin. The palate brings flavors of chocolate coated cherries with a slight earthy note hiding in the background.
The Chenin Blanc comes in at 60.3% ABV and features a nose with aromas of pear drops and freshly made camomile tea, along with robust honeycomb and apple. The palate finds ginger and Seville orange at the front, which leads to tropical fruits and camomile notes, with almonds following the strong opening.
All three expressions of the Glen Moray 2020 Distillery Edition series are non-chill-filtered and are bottled at cask strength. Each Whisky is priced at £85 (US$106.50) each per 700ml bottle.
Usually, you have to head to the Glen Moray distillery in Elgin to pick up a bottle of Distillery Edition. But this year, the brand is offering a “dial-in” service that allows fans who are unable to visit the site to call and order.
Glen Moray will give personal phone consultations throughout the peak tourism season of July and August from 9am to 5pm. Four team members guide callers through the range and offer recommendations while answering questions and taking orders.
Iain Allan, Glen Moray’s brand ambassador and distillery visitor centre manager, said: “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 Elgin-based Glen Moray Distillery reopened on July 15th and has implemented a variety of safety measures. Those looking to visit for a tasting or just to stop at the cafe must pre-book. Tours are currently unavailable.