Glen Moray Amarone, Amontillado and Oloroso finishes from Warehouse 1
Glen Moray has just released three new finishes for whisky lovers, including Amarone, Amontillado and Oloroso. These are the latest whiskies to emerge from the famous blue doors of Warehouse 1. Philip Day invites you to discover Glen Moray’s Christmas Three!
The deep blue doors of Glen Moray’s ‘Warehouse 1’ have released another three hidden gems for whisky lovers to savour as the Elgin distillery wraps up a trio of Warehouse 1 exclusives, especially for the gifting season. This year’s selection of Warehouse 1 whiskies all share a common theme, celebrating Glen Moray’s classic Speyside spirit matured in casks sourced from some of Europe’s oldest, noblest and most distinctively flavoured wine and sherry varieties.
This tantalizing trio is comprised of Amarone Finish which showcases Glen Moray’s affinity with the full-bodied red wines of Italy; Amontillado Finish, adventuring beyond the whisky’s classic sherry maturation with dryer, deeper, richer notes; and Oloroso Fully Matured, where the Glen Moray spirit has rested for eight years in Oloroso casks to release the rich, sweet notes of this characterful sherry.
These three limited-edition, UK exclusives have been bottled and released just in time for Christmas, making them the perfect gift for whisky lovers, old and new, who would love to unwrap a special dram to enjoy over the festive season.
Let’s have a closer look at the releases.
Glen Moray Warehouse 1 Amarone Finish (Glen Moray’s Warehouse 1 Collection)
After 10 years in bourbon casks, this iteration as been finished for two years in casks that once held Italy’s legendary Amarone red wine, offering rich, ripe fruity notes that are the perfect complement to Glen Moray’s classic Speyside spirit.
Amarone (or Amarone della Valpolicella to give it its full title) is a well liked, rich, dry, Italian, red wine made from three native Italian grapes: Corvina, Molinara and Rondinella – the only grape varieties permitted.
Once picked as whole bunches, the grapes are allowed to dry in special drying chambers under controlled conditions in plastic or wooden crates, with sufficient ventilation to prevent mould growth. This process is called appassimento or rasinate (to dry and shrivel) in Italian. This drying period lasts around four months to concentrate the sugars and flavours of the grapes before being processed and stored in oak casks.
The name ‘Amarone’, literally translates as ‘the Great Bitter One’ in order to distinguish it from ‘Recioto’ wine produced in the same region, following a similar drying process, which is much sweeter in taste.
Distillation date: 12.02.2010
Only 1194 bottles are available
55.4% ABV
RRP £79.95
Tasting Notes (Supplied by Glen Moray):
‘Sweet and spicy notes of fig and cinnamon on the nose, transcending into a deep, rich chocolate cherry liqueur. Flavours of sweet brown sugar and notes of chocolate fade to reveal a burst of red cherry, with lingering fresh green peppercorn.’
Personal tasting notes (Official sample kindly provided by Glen Moray through Burt Greener Communications)
Nose: A strong mixture of spicy peppercorns and cinnamon together with bursts of ripe, juicy figs soaked in cherry brandy that adds a gorgeous, rich chocolate note for good measure.
Taste: An initial hit of sweet brown sugar and creamy dark chocolate notes combines with elements of oakiness before a fruity burst of fresh red cherries with a hint of Turkish delight breaks through, accompanied by a slight peppery tinge.
Finish: A medium to long finish. Drying, sweet and fruity with more subtle spices appearing through a lingering peppered oakiness. Stylish.
The whisky spirit was allowed to fully mature for 10 years in ex-bourbon casks prior to 2 years finishing in ex-Amarone wine casks, causing it to become infused with unique characteristics.
The maturation period has created a well-rounded layered classic dram. The finishing period has allowed many characteristics of the wine to complement the whisky spirit, while not over powering it.
Try adding a few drops of water as this helps the flavour profile to open up even more.
A superbly finished Glen Moray at a reasonably accessible price point.
Glen Moray Warehouse 1 Amontillado Finish (Glen Moray’s Warehouse 1 Collection)
The classic Glen Moray Speyside spirit has been finished for two years in casks that once held this dark sherry from the Montilla region of Spain, giving the finished whisky its dry, deep and rich sherry notes.
Distillation date: 12.08.2013
Only 1248 bottles available
57.5% ABV
RRP £74.95
Tasting Notes (Supplied by Glen Moray):
‘An intense hit of caramel and chocolate on the nose, which morph into earthy notes of leather and tobacco expanding into rich, warm woody flavours with chocolate and hazelnut. A gentle spice gives way to a buttery chocolate finish.’
Personal tasting notes (Official sample kindly provided by Glen Moray through Burt Greener Communications)
Nose: A strong mixture of creamy praline and malt infused with a bouquet of apple/citrus and leathery notes that adds a punch of chocolate for good measure.
Taste: A powerful hit of woody, nutty flavours combined with elements of leather and tobacco earthiness create a dram of substance. This is enhanced by sweet citrus elements, which also add a touch of acidity, while unctuous buttery chocolate notes mollify the spiciness of the Glen Moray spirit.
Finish: A stylish, sweet, toasted nuttiness provides a long-lasting chocolatey and honey melon rich sublime finish.
Allowing the whisky spirit to fully mature first in ex-bourbon casks for 6 years prior to finishing in ex-Amontillado casks for 2 years has given the spirit time to interact, instilling it with a unique character.
In short, unlike other sherry finished whiskies, the choice of a more unusual type of sherry ensures it doesn’t over dominate, allowing elements of the Glen Moray spirit to still shine through. A very accessible finish, at a very reasonable price point.
Glen Moray Warehouse 1 Oloroso Fully Matured (Glen Moray’s Warehouse 1 Collection)
Dark, nutty Oloroso (“scented” in Spanish) plays an important part in finishing Glen Moray’s core range, but this is the distillery’s first expression to be fully matured for seven years in Oloroso casks.
Distillation date: 06.06.2014
Only 1950 bottles are available
60% ABV
RRP £76.95
Tasting Notes (Supplied by Glen Moray):
‘Oaky and malty aromas combine with hedgerow fruits, rich cacao and a subtle hint of toasted chestnuts on the nose. To taste there is sweet liquorice, notes of rich autumn leaves and tannin, and a nuttiness that transforms to oaky spice and a long, lingering sweet, dried fruit finish.’
Personal tasting notes (Official sample kindly provided by Glen Moray through Burt Greener Communications)
Nose: Oak, malt and nutty aromas combine with juicy blackberries and notes of good quality dark chocolate and freshly roasted almonds.
Taste: A powerful hit of tannic oakiness combined with elements of autumnal leaves and a liquorice sweetness and hints of rich dark chocolate create a dram of substance. This is followed by sweeter elements of autumnal stone fruit like plums and damsons, delicious warmed figs and ripe blackberries undercut by a nutty flavour that modifies into warming spice.
Finish: A stylish, slightly oily mouth feel but smooth. Sweet and spicy, a long-lasting woody, nutty dryness while fruity.
A few drops of water brings out further sherry influences and additional notes of orange peel and cherries. The slightly oily mouth feel is also transformed into a more waxy experience.
The very fact that allowing the whisky to fully mature for 8 years in ex-Oloroso casks has given the spirit time to perfectly interact with the sherry’s distinctive qualities.
This iteration of Glen Moray is a good winter warmer thanks to the slightly sulphurous taste that gives the impression of smokiness, which together with its spicy flavours and its 60% ABV creates an explosive taste sensation.
My personal favourite.
About the Warehouse 1 Collection:
Launched in late 2020 with the inaugural Sauternes Cask Matured expression, Glen Moray’s Warehouse 1 Collection promised small batch, limited release whiskies that are always non-chill filtered and bottled at cask strength with natural colour, matured in the Elgin distillery’s famous blue-doored warehouse, where rarer and more experimental casks are tucked away.
Since its inception, the Warehouse 1 Collection has received a clutch of awards to its name.
Previous releases include Sauternes, Barolo, Tokaji, Manzanilla and Madeira matured expressions.
Image – Iain Allan
Glen Moray’s Global Brand Ambassador Iain Allan believes that the light, smooth, fruity Speyside character of Glen Moray matured in unusual casks choices is a winning combination.
He commented: ‘There’s something magical about Warehouse 1 and the unexpected and experimental casks that lie within it, and we have definitely bottled some of that magic with these three exceptional new whiskies. They are stunning single malts, continuing Glen Moray’s long heritage of cask exploration and of journeys around the world to source casks that bring bold, vibrant, sun-soaked flavours to our classic Speyside single malt whisky. Whether for full maturation or just for the finish, these casks bring extraordinary flavour and complexity to our whisky, with three distinctive expressions for whisky fans to savour over the festive season.’
Glen Moray’s latest Warehouse 1 expressions are available now (launched 24th November, 2022) from specialist whisky shops.
Crafted since 1897 in the ancient town of Elgin, the capital of the Speyside whisky region, Glen Moray distillers have been curious about flavour throughout their history. Surviving ledgers show that a wide variety of casks were used to mature new make spirit back in those early days, which was an unusual practice for the time.
A deep knowledge and expertise of wood has developed at Glen Moray through generations of distillers, resulting in today’s exceptional range of whiskies with a style to suit everyone.
Glen Moray is the 5th biggest malt whisky brand by volume in the UK and is growing in international markets.
About Glen Moray and La Martiniquaise-Bardinet:
For most of its working history since 1924 Glen Moray was owned by Macdonald & Muir (which changed its name to the Glenmorangie Company Ltd. in 1996). In 2004, the French luxury goods group Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) bought Glenmorangie. In 2008, LVMH sold off the Glen Moray distillery to La Martiniquaise. It is currently managed by LMB-UK, the UK subsidiary of the French, family-owned business La Martiniquaise-Bardinet: the world’s 7th largest spirits group.
Founded by Jean Cayard in 1934, La Martiniquaise-Bardinet is an independent French spirits group with a large portfolio of international brands. Headquartered near Paris, the group operates in over 100 countries with 38 subsidiaries and production sites. Their industry-leading portfolio includes some of the world’s best-selling and best-loved brands across whisky, white spirits, brandies, rums, wines, ports and liqueurs. LMB-UK’s focus brands are the fast-growing top ten single malt whisky, Glen Moray; Cutty Sark blended whisky; Bardinet Brandy; the world’s No.1 port Porto Cruz; and the French craft liqueur brand Marie Brizard. Based in Scotland, LMB-UK is investing in growth and its team of spirits experts working across trade, sales and marketing, working alongside LMB production bases in Elgin (Glen Moray Distillery) and Bathgate (Starlaw Distillery).
For additional information see: www.la-martiniquaise.com
Address: Glen Moray Distillery
Bruceland Road
Elgin
IV30 1YE
Telephone: +44 (0)1343 550 900
Email: visitor.centre@glen-moray.co.uk
Facebook: @GlenMoray Distillery
Twitter: @GlenMorayDist
Instagram: glen moray whisky
Press release provided by Burt Greener Communications
Images: Kindly provided with thanks by Burt Greener Communications