Our Lorne Mackillop selection this month is a Speyside Glen Moray 14-year old distilled in December 1992, (43%ABV) cask #4065. It is uncolored and non-chill filtered. Aged in Bourbon and finished in Sauvignon Blanc casks.

Glen Moray distillery is situated close to the River Lossie, (from which it draws its water), on the western outskirts of Elgin, which is the Speyside’s capital city. Glen Moray began its life as a brewery in 1815, becoming a distillery in 1897. Two of the surviving 18th century brewery buildings form part of the present central courtyard.

Glen Moray stands below Gallowcrook Hill, where Elgin’s executions were carried out until the 17th century. 

In 1962, when the distillery grounds were excavated to build a new warehouse, seven skulls were discovered, one with a musket ball embedded in its jaw. Its name means “Glen Sea Settlement” (the Glen Moray Firth, or Bay is close by) and is pronounced, glen MORray.

Glen Moray’s role as a distillery dates from the ‘whisky boom’ years of the last decade of the 19th century, when many new distilleries appeared on Speyside to slake the voracious thirst of the rapidly expanding blending industry.

The first spirit flowed at Glen Moray in 1897, but as boom turned to bust, the distillery closed in 1910. Thirteen years later it was purchased by Macdonald & Muir, whose existing Glenmorangie distillery at Tain was also based on a former brewery. Glen Moray remains in the ownership of what is now Glenmorangie plc, which in turn is owned by Moet Hennessy and Louis Vuitton Investissements.

Glenmorangie, which first introduced wine-finishes to whisky production in 1994 with its Port wood finish, actually performed their first tests of this concept at the Glen Moray distillery. Since 1999, Glen Moray has been mellowing its whisky in casks that originally contained Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. The initial maturation is in ex-bourbon barrels.

Glen Moray picked up two awards at the prestigious 2006 International Spirits Challenge. A Silver medal for Glen Moray 30 and a Bronze medal for Glen Moray 16.

Glen Moray 30 Years Old was the winner in the category 21 years and over at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Awards 2007. 

The recently launched Manager’s Choice bottling, Glen Moray Mountain Oak The Final Release, won a Gold Medal, Best in Class for the category of Speyside Cask Strength 15-17 years at the International Wines and Spirits Competition (IWSC) 2007. Other Glen Moray expressions also picked up medals at the 2007 IWSC: Silver for Glen Moray 12 and 16 years old and a bronze for Glen Moray Classic.

Jim Murray voted Glen Moray 1986 Commemorative Bottling single cask the “Scotch Single Malt of the Year” in his 2006 Whisky Bible. (No longer available) Murray rates a 12 year old and the 16 year old mellowed in Chenin Blanc at 87 and 85 respectively.

Jackson rates both at 76. Of the 12’s palate he notes: Pears in cream. Late, lively peachy fruitiness. Garden mint.

Our bottler describes this dram thusly: Bright, lively Sauvignon Blanc/straw color with thick legs. Spicy nose, with peppermint, fruit and light notes of the sea.  Rich texture, but light bodied–very charming with candied fruit and peppermints notes. Very pretty, with vanilla/caramel on the finish.

                                                                          

The Strathisla Distillery, the oldest working distillery in the Scottish Highlands, lies in a hollow on the banks of the River Isla in the Banffshire market town of Keith, renowned for its “holy wells” and natural springs.

Founded in 1786 in the ancient market town of Keith, the distillery maintains many of the traditions and techniques laid down during the earliest days of whisky production. The name means “The Valley of the River Isla” and is pronounced strathEYEla.

The Strathisla distillery, was founded by George Taylor and Alexander Milne, under the name of Milltown Distiller. Its definitive “Strathisla” name dates from 1949, when it was taken over by James Barclay, from the Chivas Brothers group, which in 1949 was part of Seagrams, owned by Sam Bronfman. The distilleries from “The Chivas and Glenlivet Group”, belonging to Seagram were acquired by the French group “Pernod-Ricard” on December 19, 2001.

Most of Strathisla is used in the blends Chivas Regal and Royal Salute, with about 2% being bottled as a single-malt. (Chivas Regal 12, is made up of - Strathisla, Caperdonich, Glen Grant, Braeval, Allt-a-Bhainne, and grain whisky.)

Jim Murray rates Strathisla an 87 and describes its nose: A dab of distant peat adds even more weight to something that is malt-heavy already. The palate he describes as: Pleasant, sultana-fruity with a very rich malt follow through.

Michael Jackson states the nose is: Apricot. Cereal grains. Fresh, juicy oak. He speaks of the palate thusly: Much richer than previous bottlings. Sherryish, fruity. Mouth-coating. Then, Strathisla’s teasing sweet-and-dry character. Jackson rates Strathisla an 80.

Strathisla recently won Two Gold Medals at the 2007 International Wine and Spirit Awards and a Gold at the 2007 San Francisco Wine and Spirits Competition

In David Wishart’s Whisky Classifications list, Strathisla is in Cluster B which means its flavor is most similar to ( Medium-Bodied, Medium-Sweet, with Nutty, Malty, Floral, Honey and Fruity Notes): Aberfeldy, Aberlour, Ben Nevis, Benrinnes, Benromach, Blair Athol, Cragganmore, Edradour, Glenfarclas, Glenturret, Knockando, Longmorn, and Scapa.

                                                                           

The Speyside area is situated at the North of the Cairngorm Mountains and goes to the Moray Firth (or bay). Two rivers border Speyside: the Findhorn at the West side and the Deveron on the East side. The area is named after the River Spey. Most of the distilleries take their water from one of its tributaries: the Fiddich, the Livet or the Avon. About sixty distilleries are contained in the Speyside region.

Tomintoul 16 year-old, (40% ABV) single malt is the third whisky we will taste from this region.

 

Tomintoul is used in the blends of Whyte & MacKay group, who was owner of the distillery from 1973 until 2000, when it was sold to Angus Dundee, PLC. Dundee also distills, Glencadam 15 (we tasted a Glencadam 14 single cask at our last tasting), Old Ballantruan Peated Speyside-Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky (a heavilly peated version of Tomintoul), two blends, private labeled whiskys and owns Mackillop’s Choice Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky Company, which has been producing our single cask bottlings.

In Gaelic Tomintoul means “Little Hill of the Barn,” and is pronounced, tominTOWEL.

Tomintoul 16 won a Gold Medal at the 2003 San Francisco World Sprits Competition, was designated “Exceptional” at the 2004 USA Beverage Tasting Institute, and won a Silver Medal at the 2005 International Wine & Spirits Competition. The 27 year-old also won numerous awards.

David Wishart includes Tomintoul in his classification, Cluster E, (Light, Medium-Sweet, Low Peat, with Floral, Malty Notes and Fruity, Spicy, Honey Hints ) along with Bladnoch, Bunnahabhain, Glenallachie, Glenkinchie, Glenlossie, Glen Moray, Inchgower and Inchmurrin.

The Malt Advocate Buyer’s Guide rates Tomintoul an 83, with this description: The “Gentle Dram,” it says on the bottle’s label, and it certainly is one of the gentler whiskies in Speyside. It’s a fragrant whisky too with a firm malty foundation, fruit gum drops and caramel. Subtle notes of almond and anise helped keep my interest, as did its soft, subtle wood spice finish. Very easy to drink too!

Jim Murray rates the 16 year-old an 88.  Speaking of this dram’s balance he states:

“The Gentle Dram” claims the label and so it is. In fact, few Scotch malts can match this whisky’s uncanny ability to dissolve on contact with the taste buds. Excellent bittersweet balance, though it tends towards sweetness with the oak kept as a safe distance until the very end.

Michael Jackson rates this dram a 78.  Describing the palate he says: Finely grated zesty, citrus peels. Syllabub [a traditional British dessert, popular from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century made from rich milk or cream seasoned with sugar and wine]. Zabaglione [an Italian dessert made with egg yolks, sugar and Marsala wine]. Nougat.

“The light music of whisk(e)y falling into a glass - an agreeable interlude.”  -    James Joyce

Glen Moray 14-year old, distilled December 1992 (43%ABV) non-chill filtered

and uncolored bottling, single cask #4065,

Strathisla 12-year old (43% ABV)

Tomintoul 16-year old (40% ABV)