Glen Moray 12 Year Old

Reviewed by: Nick

Glen Moray 12 Year Old

It is quite often the case in the whisky world that what you pay for is what you get. It is usually a safe assumption that a $40 bottle will be inferior to one costing three figures. However, there are so many exceptions to this rule that I begin to wonder why us whisky fanatics spend the money we do.

Case in point is the Glen Moray 12 Year Old, a bottle that first caught my eye when I was a uni student and therefore always on the lookout for an alcoholic bargain. The Glen Moray was, quite simply, the cheapest single malt I could find in Australian bottle shops. However I was quick to discover it held a certain charm that saw it rise above many of the blends I could also afford.

There is no denying that it is a simple dram, bearing all the hallmarks of Speyside. On the nose there are notes of sweet biscuits and honey. Predictably from a whisky matured entirely in bourbon casks, there are also elements of vanilla. The palate is sweet, almost syrupy, with toffee, banana and heathery floral notes. The finish contains more vanilla, spice and Werthers-esque caramel.

The Glen Moray 12 Year Old is never likely to rack up a high score at any whisky awards shows. But in my opinion there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. It is simply a straightforward and inoffensive whisky that punches above its weight against the larger players.

★★

11 comments

    1. Oh they certainly have their place! Whiskies you can just – believe it or not – drink! And you make a good point – pleasant is very true (and perhaps a succinct summary of my tasting notes!). Thanks for the comment.
      Keep on waffling,
      Nick

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  2. Having been a Uni student on a budget not too long ago myself, I would definitely agree with your sentiment about this being the cheapest single malt around mate! I remember trying this back in 2010 (it was around $38 a bottle at Dan Murphy’s back then iirc) and wasn’t overly excited about it.

    But credit where it is due and this was and still is a decent dram if you’re on a budget and not a bad option. Interestingly, it has received a lot more care and attention under present owners La Martiniquaise than previous owners such as Glenmorangie and it is due to them that the single malt range is well known these days.

    Great review as always btw!

    Slainte!

    Brendan

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    1. A single malt under $40? Yes please! Interesting point about the present owners. I knew there was some change for them but I wasn’t sure how significant it was. I do occasionally see bottles like 25 year old port matured Glen Moray popping up. Bottles like this would certainly change my general feeling about the distillery!
      Keep on waffling,
      Nick

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      1. Defs agree mate! La Martiniquaise have done a phenomenal job since taking over the distillery and credit has to be given to them for making the brand more well known around the world.

        And $40 for a single malt is brilliant value (when you consider that the cheapest bottle in Singapore is somewhere closer to $70) and at that price point, people will keep coming back for more surely.

        Slainte!

        Brendan

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  3. During my brief stint backpacking about Australia, my hostel friends and I purchased a bottle of this based on its price. As such I associate this bottle with hostels in Melbourne, Sydney, Byron Bay, and Brisbane. I also fondly remember that we were all pleasantly surprised at how good it was!

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