Whisky Connosr
Menu
Buy Whisky Online

Glen Moray 16 Year Old

Average score from 4 reviews and 13 ratings 83

Glen Moray 16 Year Old

Product details

  • Brand: Glen Moray
  • Bottler: Distillery Bottling
  • ABV: 40.0%
  • Age: 16 year old

Shop for this

What next?

  • Add to cabinet
  • Add to wish list
@markjedi1

Reviewed by @markjedi1

0 081/100

Glen Moray 16 Year Old

The Glen Moray distillery lies somewhat hidden in the hills near Elgin. This Speysider – owned by the French company La Martiniquaise since 2008 – has quite a few expressions on the shelves, although the lion’s share of its 2.5 million liters per annum are used for blending. It is the fingerprint malt in the popular Label 5. I must confess that Glen Moray is not really on my radar, but it has surprised me in a pleasant way quite a few times. This 16 Year Old matured on bourbon barrels.

The nose offers a healthy mix of sweet malt and dried fruits. Think apricots and peach, but also dades and some sultanas. Soft flowery honey and lots of vanilla. Some eucalyptus and a hint of stale dark beer. The whole is more than okay, albeit somewhat simple. If you leave it to breathe for more than five minutes, you’ll get some surprising notes of roast beef…

The arrival is somewhat oily, even a bit meaty. The fruit is less prominent, although it remains very sweet. Some more vanilla and lots of caramel. The eucalyptus returns on the palate. The oak gives off some spices, but just a tad too much tannins from the second sip forward, making it slightly bitter.

The finish is not really long, again on a lot of sweet malt and dried apricots.

A fine malt, without being grand.

Comment on @markjedi1's review

d

Reviewed by @dov613

0 070/100

@Magnus

Reviewed by @Magnus

0 390/100

Elgin, being the capital of Moray, located in the heart of Speyside, has seen a lot in the past, but now the vicinity houses several distilleries, one of them being Glen Moray. I am writing this review after 5/8 bottle (bought 4 days ago) of the reviewed expression has been thoroughly and blissfully sipped.

Nose: Straight and honest. A desert dance of brandy, sherry and oak. A palpable Turkish delight. Good old Chilean Malbec Reserve red wine. Strong floral notes. Rose oil. Hint of salt and mint. No booziness at all. Very likeable and complex nose for a totally unfashionable Speysider.

Palate: in the beginning the palate follows the nose. Old Malbec Reserve and old Solera combined. Very sweet. The sweetness starts as soon as the dram enters the mouth. Lots of sweet oak. Honey suckle. Hint of white pepper and herbs. A distant milk chocolate (Lindt?).

Finish: Sweet, turning to bitter. Sweet toffee, followed by green pepper and bitter lemon, covered in yet more oak. The oak however is not bold, but caring, caressing and subtle. Very dry.

Everything about this dram is subtle, but it doesn't hide the hint of various dangerous and dark pleasures awaiting you at the damp basement of its' white, clean, meticulously flawless house. The basement that you are longing to visit and you know it is a matter of time until you succumb to the temptation. It's like hearing Lord Vetinari speak: understated words in a quiet voice, saying all the right words and making you do what he essentially wants you to do. In other words, the Glen Moray 16 Year Old is full of guilty pleasures, that you half-intentionally covet to indulge in.

The only drawback to this one is the kick. Bottled at 40% ABV, it lacks the "KA-boom!" factor in palate and finish. The burn is inadequate to the abundance of other niceties to this dram. It just doesn't pack any punch. If this dram was bottled at 45% ABV it would have easily equalled or surpassed the score of Longmorn 15 Year Old. It has the potential, but the fuel, the fire, the kick... they are simply not there. So, instead of allowing it a score around 96 or 97, I'll give it 90. Still, given its' price tag (around €32 in Sofia, Bulgaria), this dram makes a very high position in my Bang-For-My-Buck chart. And I will no doubt buy another bottle of Glen Moray 16 Year Old, because it's sooooooo drinkable.

@vrudy6@vrudy6 commented:

Like Ralfy says: "Can you imagine this bottled at 46% abv, non-chill filtered!" Sounds like it's a good value, even though it lacks a punch. A definite must try! I'm also interested in the 10yo Chardonnay cask, which is super affordable. I will be reviewing that one in the coming days. Thanks for the great review. Cheers!

m@maltmate302 commented:

Excellent review .I'm a big fan of Glen Moray,I feel its one of the most underrated distillery's in Scotland, mainly I feel because its quite cheap. The 10 year old chardonnay cask matured expression is one of my favourite entry level Speysiders.

Read all 3 comments

@britwhiskyfan

Reviewed by @britwhiskyfan

0 493/100

Not a particular fan of the Speysides I find them a little harsh for my tastes. But right from the deep gold color and may be a slight all spice noise.

Maybe slightly sweeter than other Speysiders, definitely smoother, no lack of taste with a nice depth of oakyness that leave the drinker happily satified.

Glen Moray is a nice place to visit.

@britwhiskyfan@britwhiskyfan commented:

My entry to malt was Taliker and Lagavulin, I know that their smokey peaty flavor is too much for some but they have a smooth after taste, Speysides like Glenlivet and Glenfiddich do not have the depth, which to some makes them accesible, but they tend to have kick. But I will concede that there are other spey siders like, Balvenie, Craggenmore among others so to correct my self it the south west corner of central Spey side I am not so keen on. I appologise to rest of speyside ....Oh yes Auchentohan is a great choice...

@AboutChoice@AboutChoice commented:

Hi @GMJ, I'm surprised to hear that you find Speysides a little harsh, as they are often considered as the entry-level malts ... but each to his own ... and that's the way you see it. I could only suggest that Lowlands, such as Auchentohan, would be a bit softer. But I'm just curious as to what malts or categories you would find to be less harsh ? You seem to like the Glenmoray 16 in a big way ... I've never tasted one ... but will have to try it.

Read all 4 comments

Popular Glen Moray whiskies

View more Glen Moray whiskies