Originally the site of a 19th century brewery, the site was opened as distillery in 1897 on the outskirts of Elgin. Driving through the narrow residential streets, one wonders if a wrong turn was made, as it seems an unlikely spot for an industrial operation. But alas, soon appears the sign we’re looking for Glen Moray Distillery.
Located in none other than the Moray region, it’s mild climate, proximity to the River Lossie and the high water table all contribute to the fruity and soft flavors Glen Moray is known for. Unfortunately, the latter two also contribute to flooding on site. On tours, visitor can observe building markings noting the flood heights. One such marker from 2002, is more than halfway up a huge arched doorway.
Owned by Macdonald and Muir, the same owner as Glenmorangie, for many years Glen Moray was primarily used as the experimentation house. Here, master distillers played with different distillations and maturations but what Glen Moray is most well known for is its experimentation with cask finishes. Under the old owners, the successful Glen Moray experiments were carried out at scale at Glenmorangie, while Glen Moray was primarily used for the group’s blended whiskies and economy malt.
After Moet Hennessy acquired the Glenmorangie PLC (Macdonald and Muir’s successor), Glen Moray was sold to another French firm, La Martiniquaise in 2008. Fans, new and old of Glen Moray agree the new owners have revitalized the brand name, introducing the Glen Moray single malt to new markets and welcoming tourism with the opening of a quaint visitor center and café. Like days past, Glen Moray still focuses on cask finishes and experimentation but nowadays those experiments are shared with consumers. The distillery was one of the first to introduce wine (specifically Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc) and port finished whiskies and the rest is history!
One of the most fascinating parts of the Glen Moray tour is the warehouse visit where whisky lovers can view the different casks used for Glen Moray such as port, sherry, bourbon and various wines. The aromas are lovely and distinctly different for each, as is the color of the liquid, which is also on display.