Glen Moray 1981 (Whisky Sponge)

I tried a very good Glen Moray 1989 some time ago that is still waiting to be bottled, something I’m already looking forward to.

Now there’s an even older Glen Moray 1981, the first bottling from the Whisky Sponge whose actual name is Angus of course.

Glen Moray 38 yo 1981 (49,1%, Whisky Sponge ‘Edition N°1’ 2019, ex-bourbon hogshead, 123 btl.)

Nose: a sophisticated old style. Berries, mint essence and garden leaves. Nice apricots and figs in the background, some honey. Marmalade. Faint waxy notes and the right amount of dusty cupboard. Bright and attractive.

Mouth: a really nice combination of bourbonny wood with the glorious 1970s Speyside markers. Tangerines, apricots, beeswax. Marmalade again, cinnamon. Moves towards fruit tea and dried herbs, roasted nuts and a hint of cedar. Fades on fresh minty notes.

Finish: not too long, but showing pleasant fruity notes, tea and some more menthol.

An elegant old style, certainly oak-influenced but with hardly any tannins, reminding us of the glorious 1970s. Available from Copper Monument (an allied bottler / shop apparently) for around € 460.

Score: 91/100