Whisky: Glen Moray 21 Year (1995), Cask 7280 for Spec's

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 55%

Cask: Sherry

Age: 20 Years (Distilled 1995, Bottled 2016)

Nose: Rich stewed fruits, baking spices, chocolate, hints of leather with a touch of earthy funk at times, berries and jam with mellow citrus.

Palate: Medium-bodied, balanced, peppery at times, dried fruits, baking spices, chocolate, anise, leather in the background with hints of coffee; waxy at times with citrus at the end.

Finish: Medium-length, slightly drying, and peppery, with dried fruits and baking spices.

Score: 6-7

Mental Image: Probably not Alice’s Diner

Narrative & Notes: With the aroma, I found memories of an old diner— leather booths with a cracked plastic finish, hints of coffee and chocolate cream pie, jars of rich jam, and fruity syrups. Stewed fruits in a butter crust, rich berry jam spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, and hints of citrusy zesty lemon meringue promised it was time for pie. Medium-bodied and balanced with a peppery spirit around the edges, the profile featured dried fruits, baking spices, and chocolate. Stewed plums and little jam jars with berries, cinnamon, and anise arrived first. A hint of leathery funk mellowed in the background with waxed countertops, dark chocolate, and hints of coffee. A lovely waxiness built over time and carried more citrus zest to the end. The finish was medium-length, slightly drying, and peppery, with dried fruits and baking spices.

I received this sample from a friend who famously identifies as a sherry-fiend, or I consider him one anyone, so I should have known this was going to be a cask-dominant whisky. The malty-herbal Glen Moray character was largely subsumed under the cask's influence. Yet, this was always more than just a one-note firecracker. It was balanced and refined in a way that few sherry-driven whiskies are, especially the modern hyper-aggressive style that so many love.

The mild waxiness that built over the experience was a nice touch and gave the mouthfeel a vaguely Clynelish aspect. It was a touch peppery and spirited at times, though not to a particularly distracting level. If anything, I would describe it as that sort of liveliness that is quite enjoyable and enhances the experience.

Overall, this was lovely. Spec's snagged a solid cask of Glen Moray–– now, if only I could go back in time and grab one too.