Glen Moray Peated Malt

Review

While not overly complex this is a great expression of a dry, smokey whisky with hints of peat. Glen Moray is better known for its unpeated Speyside drams, and for this one they dry some of the barley over a peat-fired kiln and distil it alongside their usual malted barley, so the smoke is there but it never takes over. It isn't overly sweet either and leans more towards the savoury side, so don't expect a typical Speyside with a bit of smoke added. This is something quite different. At around $70 we highly recommend trying this out if you are new to peated whisky, and it won't hurt the wallet if it turns out smoke isn't for you. If peated whiskies are already your thing, then this may disappoint. The peat is very subtle, it's a long way from the big smoky drams of Islay, and it just doesn't have the complexity or depth of flavour that you would expect from a more expensive peated whisky. However, if you are looking for an affordable way to explore peated whiskies then this is a good choice, and it pairs well with a range of foods and occasions.