Glen Moray 12 Year

Appearance: Fairly light, straw-colored. Compared to the bourbon in my closet, this whisky looks like a light beer without the carbonation. Dark at the edges, with alcohol legs that drip down, the Glen Moray looks as expected: Nose: A lot of toffee hits me from a distance, with some grape, pear, and other fruity notes. Sticking my nose further into the glass, I get more toffee, less fruit, and more malt/bread. Agitating the glass releases more floral and fruit aromas. Palate: Bready and fruity on the first sip. Some of the grape I detected in the nose shows itself, followed by pear, caramel, and toffee. Finish: Slight heat, a fruity, earthy finish is what I’m getting, and it lingers for a bit. Overall: I like this, and for under $35 a bottle, this is a decent bargain find. Usually one of the cheaper single malts I see, Glen Moray 12 is worth a try.

Purchased this affordable ($30) 12-year single malt I hadn't experienced before. At 80 proof and chill filtered, it's a light scotch and indeed leans sweet. Poured neat, the nose offers strawberry, peach, sweet apple with malt, and no dark notes. The palate is rich malt, berries, and honey vanilla fading to oak. The finish is medium, fruity, dry, and woody. No peat/smoke and plenty of fruit, typical of most Speysides. I enjoyed the light, fresh, sweet flavor. Overall, it has some good malt presence that I like but lacks body and depth. It's a bit hot for 80 proof but still drinks very easily. Simple and accessible, good value for a 12-year single malt. I'm glad I tried it, I like it and will explore other Glen Moray offerings. 78/100

Quite a surprise, honestly; I wasn't expecting much from this. It seems younger than the 12 years indicated on the label. Bottled at 40% ABV with a yellow-gold hue. The aroma is where it shines most, offering notes of prune peel, vanilla cream, earthiness, grapevines, Cabernet Sauvignon, nuts, and a medicinal quality. It's almost perfumed. The palate is a bit harsh and hot, but it delivers. Key flavors include honey, oak, almonds, grains, orange, and pleasant spices. The finish is spicy and hot, long and full, which is a strong point. It has a medium body and is predominantly hot; a decent dram. Scored 80 out of 100.

ELGIN HERITAGE: Enjoyed neat at home. Well-rounded notes of caramel and toffee, with rich honey. Vanilla cream followed by a second wave of sea salt. The texture was chewy and slick. The warmth was barely noticeable. Peat was present but very much in the background. Lemon squares, graham cracker crust, and a tartness at the end. It finished distinctly like lemon meringue. With a single drop of water, the salt became more apparent, and a more mineral character emerged. (Perhaps it's my water?) Notes of tobacco and autumn leaves became more prominent. The toffee and caramel also softened. The peat seemed to intensify slightly with the drop of water. It left a coating on the lips.

Speyside all the way down to the last drop. The nose reveals dried red fruits, Berry Captain Crunch cereal, honeycomb, caramel, fresh spicy herbs, and sawdust. Something keeps reminding me of an oaked Chardonnay. The palate is malty, sweet, and light, but the finish isn’t cut short or dead. It’s actually quite involved and engaging, capable of being a background element. A benchmark Speyside for sure.

I detect cut grass, paint thinner, and a Wonka root beer bottle cap flavor. I suspect my sense of smell is impaired for this one; I don't perceive any fruit, even after letting it sit for half an hour. On the palate, I get a creamy, spicy sherry, honey, and vanilla. The finish is moderately long and spicy.