Opening our account of the September 2022 SWMW outturn with a trip to Glen Moray. This younger example has been matured in a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel before being bottled at 58.% ABV.
Nose: Opening with crisp and slightly blow-torched meringue peaks, before leading into mandarin and clementine slices and tangy lemon gel. In the background, mint leaf, char, sack cloth and a scattering of jelly baby gummy sweetness. The addition of water presents a warmed less snappish complexion – it also ups the fruit ante with gooseberry fool and balled melon.
Taste: The arrival is saccharine and somewhat sherbet. It also has some potent alcoholic bite to it. It does however possess a clingy syrupy texture. That works. Orange peels, cantaloupe melon and fizzy powered lemon join Rich Tea biscuits alongside fabric – this time cotton – and cask-led pepper. Dilution lowers the initial hostility adding effervescent soda water together with tangy lemon jellies. It’s simpler – but it’s also somewhat easier.
Finish: Medium with the powdery fruity sweetness sitting alongside that tingly pepper.
Whilst I enjoyed the bright, piquant fruits of the nose of this Glen Moray – that palate was too antagonistic and overtly booze-led for me at its natural strength. There’s more than enough scope for dilution here – however whilst that proved beneficial in broadening up the bouquet – it quickly diminished the overall breadth once in the mouth. You can’t have it both ways it seems.