The first review of the SMWS Bottle-Share! I’ve waited a while to start reviewing until all packages had been sent or delivered. While that technically isn’t the case (I’ve got two left) I didn’t feel like waiting any longer.

Glen Moray is one of those distilleries that you barely ever see bottled. Until recently that is. For some reason casks have been popping up left and right and especially the SMWS has picked up a couple. I tasted two last year, and now there is another old one.

Nose:
Slightly alcoholic at first with some toasted oak and the crust of dry roasted peanuts. There are quite a few spices present with dry ginger and nutmeg. I also get dried apples, pear and some tropical fruits, mostly peach. The woodiness becomes more prominent if you dig deeper.

Taste:
It’s quite gentle for an old whisky still at 53.6%. There’s quite a lot of wood dust. Liquorice, dried peaches, apple peels and a hint of brown sugar. When I’ve had this one swimming around for a bit I also get some overripe banana. Very fruity indeed.

Finish:
The finish is a bit more ‘fresh’ with some mint and vanilla. It’s still slightly drying because of the woodiness. Very friendly without ever burning and quite long. The wood becomes more prominent towards the end.

While this isn’t the best 30+ Glen Moray I’ve ever tasted, it certainly is damn fine. The SMWS name ‘Every Flavour Beans’ makes sense since this whisky really is all over the map. The fruitiness with the wood spices is a very nice combination and makes me think of Christmas cakes with all those confit and dried fruits in it. Delicious!

Glen Moray 33, 12-1976, SMWS, ‘Every Flavour Beans’, 53.6%, First Fill Bourbon Barrel, available for € 150 at the SMWS.