Glen Moray Elgin Classic Sherry Cask Finish

Nose: Slightly sour apple cider, stewed pears, white grape juice, malt extract, a little dry oakiness and a waft of vanilla. Palate: The entry is semi-sweet and mainly cereal in profile with grassy-herbal and biscuit tones. As it develops, a grapey sweetness unfolds with a little hint of astringency. It's tannic but more like the tannin of red grape skins than oak. The texture is OK, almost creamy but somewhat over-watered. Finish: Medium. Sweet cereal and grape flavours fading to a slightly drying winey aftertaste. This is another expression from the range of "finished" lower-tier Glen Moray whiskies. Glen Moray produces a spirit that is matured in refill bourbon casks and bottled as "Elgin Classic" at around 6-8 years of age. It is a light fruity dram with overtones of buttery cereal and it is a fine example of an entry-level Speysider at a very reasonable price. I often buy it to use as a mixer instead of a blended scotch and it stands up to neat drinking. The distillery then adds a range of finishes to "Elgin Classic" using a variety of different casks - port, wine, sherry, etc. I've tasted all of these now and mostly I've found the finishes to be an intrusion on the simplicity and freshness of the basic bourbon-cask matured whisky. It has a crisp personality with hints of mint and lemon citrus that always seem to be lost under the dull cloak of the finishing. Anyway, out of all the lower-tier finished expressions this is my favourite. It's a simple single malt that is good value for money and typically priced to place it in competition with lower-middle shelf blended scotches, and it is a fine alternative to such blends. Also, like all Glen Moray expressions, it gains body and sweetness as it oxidizes in the bottle. There is an elusive note to both the nose and palate that took me ages to pin down - it's ginger, but not the usual "spicy" hot ginger you encounter in single malts. This is like very dilute ginger syrup or cordial, mild and almost fruity. By the way, don't confuse the entry-level Glen Moray range with their more up-market, finished age-statement whiskies which are of a higher standard. Similarly, don't write Glen Moray off as a lightweight - there are some much older OB expressions and independent bottlings that are very good. "Average": 76/100 (2.5 stars)

Glen Moray offers good value in the single malt category. This sherry cask finish elevates it slightly, making for a pleasant drink. The nose has light red fruit and malt with some oakiness from the barrel. It's not exceptionally deep, almost like a blend, but it's enjoyable. The palate features malty oak with a mild sherry influence, not overpowering. There's a hint of vanilla and some faint smoke or char. The finish is dry with tannins and a touch of wine and malt. Adding water pushes it towards bitterness, so be cautious. It's not outstanding, but for the price, it's hard to fault. A straightforward malt with a whisper of sherry, suitable for casual sipping or unconcerned pours. Connoisseurs might not be impressed, but value seekers should consider it. Monkey Shoulder and Naked Malt are superior, but this has a drier finish if that's your preference.....82/100.....perfectly drinkable if you like sherry, but nothing extraordinary.

The aroma is quite inviting. It offers fruit, a touch of oak and spice, and some honey. The taste is likewise laid-back. You'll find apricot or pear notes alongside a cereal sweetness. There's a subtle chocolate presence and hints of baking spices or mild cinnamon. The conclusion fades rather fast, but it's smooth and free of any bitter traces. A fantastic value pour and one that's simple to savor with companions.

Horribly harsh. Smells like ethyl acetate. Like a rum from a first-time distillery that is huffing paint. Acetone. Pungent. Burning the nose. This shouldn’t be a finished product. It hurts the throat as much as the nose. An assault on the senses. This is terrible. I don’t do mixers like cola and such, but I can’t imagine any other way to suffer through a bottle of this.

Very subtle flavor, a distinct scotch character but quite sweet. The sweetness intensifies as you drink it, with a woody sweetness. I imagine this is what Sherry tastes like. It doesn't seem artificial or added, a great combination of flavors. It's thin and light, requiring no water. Minimal harshness. It misses a perfect score only because it's slightly too sweet for my preference. It tastes like a dessert.

A medium sherry note with a strong hint of ex-bourbon cask spiciness on the palate, which continues alongside the usual sherry notes in the background. The wood bitterness seems to linger in your mouth for a while, likely from charred American oak. I'd actually recommend the port version over this one.