1998 Cadenhead's Single Cask Glen Moray 20 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Glen Moray has continued largely unchanged since the 18th century, except that it was originally built as a brewery and only converted to a distillery in 1897. More recently it was owned by LVMH who contributed to its popularity with a series of budget expressions. In 2008 French distilling firm, La Martiniquaise took over with the majority of output destined for mass market blends. The distillery preferences x Bourbon oak however it was one of the first malts to be ‘finished’ in wine casks (specifically, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Port) back in 1999.

Glen Moray at cask strength is an unusual find. This one's also from a single cask (x Bourbon) that yielded 234 bottles. Cadenhead's tasting notes suggest a whisky with lemon bon bons and golden syrup on the nose, followed by syrupy flavours of lime zest, persimmons and bergamot.

Other reviews... Colour: straw. Nose: rather typical. Pear juice, sweet bread, mirabelles, muesli… Not much else so far but it does what it’s meant to do, be a good all-rounder. With water: shortbread and butterscotch, the indefatigable duo. Mouth (neat): unquestionably very good, if a little simple and straightforward. Cakes, raisins, good world chardonnay, a little sweet oak indeed, some panettone, and a drop of any of those whisky-liqueurs-they-make-for-tourists-and-thirsty-old-ladies. With water: goes a little more towards good sweet beers, cakes, perhaps a little corn syrup or something, with a wee feeling of bourbon. High rye content? Just wondering… Finish: medium, very cake-y, with some honey and maple syrup. Comments: super good, tell your friends it’s small-batch bourbon, some might well fall into the trap and owe you a round. De nada. 52.2% Alc./Vol.
86 points - Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com