Glen Moray Elgin Classic Chardonnay Cask

Thanks to /u/throwboats for pouring me this sample.

I walk into my large, 360 degree At TOModera review industries, made by the literal 10s of dollars I’ve made from reviews. As I look down from the 100th floor, my meek assistant walks in with a concerned look on her face.

“Excuse me, your lord and saviour of whisky, we have a concern.”

I smile as she calls me that. I required it in order to keep up the constant ego stroking I require.

“A concern? Not with my reviews. They are, by design, perfect.” I add in some anger to make sure she knows her place. I am a sexist and need to feel stronger than women, what with needing it due to my inability to speak to women and a fear of my own sexuality.

“Oh, no sir! I mean, lord and saviour! I mean… well, you’ve done so many Glen Morays, and recently discovered and spread the word about white wine casks. But you’ve missed one…”

I immediately begin a 20 minute rant about how much I hate original bottlings, throwing things, screaming, and demanding who is asking about Glen Moray Elgin Classic Chardonnay Cask. I call in all 1,000 employees that are there, firing half of them and calling myself Thanos.

Then someone in the remaining group points out how ridiculous this satire is and that some people won’t get it, so we jump back to reality: I’m sitting on a weekend writing up a review, having fun, alone, making sure to be funny so people can enjoy it. All while hoping no one thinks I’m serious at all about the above.

Glen Moray Elgin Classic Chardonnay Cask is a cask finish of a ex-bourbon cask Glen Moray. There’s some confusion on this one.

Originally Glen Moray brought out a ten-year-old whisky that had been completely aged in ex-Chardonnay casks. That was probably a bit expensive, what with white wine casks being used and re-toasted for a period of 30 years, and then being used as neutral casks, and then being used as planters, and then probably have some way to use them after that, so they don’t let them go for cheap.

So now this version is finished for eight months in Chardonnay casks. I never got around to trying the old version. But I have been trying more white wine casks, and I have been saying they are odd. I’ve also been doing quite a few Glen Moray independent bottles. I’ve sang their official theme song while posting (allegedly).

All in all, I should have done the old, and I’m happy to have the chance to try this one. Anyone who pushes the idea of new and interesting casks gets a tip of my hat from me. As such, let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Price: N/A at the LCBO

Region: Speyside

Cask Type: Chardonnay cask

Abv: 40%

Colour: 2.5Y 8/8

Nose: Green grape, peach, peanut, icing

I’ve successfully identified that grapes were used at some point. My parents feel proud, I’ll tell you that.

Lighter nose. Interesting to get that peanut note that I’m used to in some bourbons. It’s quite sweet though.

Taste: Green grape, earth, caramel, mineral

More grape, which is a nice tie back to the nose. Very earthy. Again we’re seeing white wine casks doing things similar to sherry casks, what with the earth, yet having unique notes, like the grapes. No spice though.

Beyond that, it’s nice to sip on, but not doing much beyond earth, mineral, and sweets. So unique, but hurt by the accounting strength.

Finish: Caramel, brine, ginger, green apple, earth

Ah, here we go. This is where the dram wakes up. The sweet gets some brine, there’s some spice that was missing from before, the green apple takes over as a tart point for the grape, and the earth helps tie it all together. Now we’re cooking with gas.

Conclusion: So there are a few things to get into this one. It did what I personally think white wine casks should do. Unique notes, something different then sherry, and be unique/weird. So good times there.

That all said, it’s a pretty simple dram. I found the nose and taste really, really simple. If I’m going to spend money, I want something to wake up before the finish.

That all said, my scores do not take into account price. I’m more than happy to have more white wine cask whiskies out there. Should you buy this? If you want to try a white wine cask whisky at a very, very approachable cost, then yes. If you like Glen Moray, yes. Heck, if you like something that has some bourbon elements to it but may change your mind, yes. While I may not give this a high score, I think this is a standard dram more people should pickup.

Heck, pick it up even if you don’t like those things. It’s an easy drinking dram that differs just enough to be fun.

71/100

Scotch review #1005, Speyside review #275, Whisky Network review #1570