SMWS 35.275 Glen Moray 25 1994 “A desert island dr(e)am”

I don’t quite remember exactly why I bought this, especially for the price, but it had something to do with how much Jenna liked it in the tasting. Maybe she made a favorable comparison to something I know I liked? Anyway, I was willing enough and have finally opened it…

Glen Moray 25, 1994 Vintage, Scotch Malt Whisky Society 35.275, Speyside Single Malt, 59.6% ABV

Minutia: Distilled on November 24, 1994 and matured in a 1st-fill toasted hogshead for 25 years yielding 180 bottles. This is part of the Juicy, Oak & Vanilla flavor profile named “A desert island dr(e)am”. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Auburn, polished mahogany; 1.5.

Nose: Rich, toasty, and woody. Musty. Dried fruit. Malty vanilla. Very nice.

Taste: Sweet, spicy, woody. Cinnamon.

Finish: Maple and bourbon. Wood spice. Medium-long, leaning longer.

…and boy am I glad I have. I’ve been finding that as my palate grows and I like unpeated malts more than I did, I still prefer peat, generally, but when I like an unpeated expression I really like it. A recently reviewed old Glenlivet comes to mind.

Score: 88

Musical Evocation: Skyclad – “Our Dying Island”