35.347 The Brightest Of Barrels

Glen Moray 10 Year Old 2012, Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 35.347 The Brightest Of Barrels, is a single cask single malt Scotch from the Glen Moray distillery in the Speyside region (SMWS distillery code 35). Distilled on 28 June 2012, it was matured for 10 years in a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel and bottled at a natural cask strength of 60.3% ABV, with an outturn of just 234 bottles. The Society places it in its Juicy, oak & vanilla flavour profile, and its Tasting Panel describes a rich, sweet and citrusy dram where the cask speaks clearly in char and vanilla. Like every SMWS bottling it is presented at cask strength without chill filtration, and the label carries the Society's cask code rather than the distillery name.

Nose: Sugar-dusted grapefruit, orange barley sugar, cantaloupe and warm leather, then varnished timber, cream soda and heather; water brings lemon bonbons, Moffat toffee, turmeric and damp tobacco leaf

Palate: Spearmint, pollen and cloudy lemonade, then cask char, cinnamon sugar, vanilla icing and candied peel; water adds young calvados, dessert wine, spice cake and apple pie

Serve: Neat first, then with a few drops of water to open it up; at full cask strength it rewards patience.