​​​​​​​Glen Moray 12 year old Dalgety small batch limited release Speyside single malt whisky 52.5%

On the banks of the River Lossie just outside Elgin stands a distillery that has been distilling since 1897. Twelve years after the spirit ran clear from Glen Moray's stills, a small independent bottler in Fife found its way to these two casks and bottled them under the name Dalgety - named after the bay where its warehouses sit.

Expert's Description

Dalgety Glen Moray 12 Year is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in two refill hogsheads and bottled at cask strength 52.5%.

The whisky comes from Glen Moray Distillery, but is bottled by the independent bottler Hannah Whisky Merchants under their Dalgety series - a lesser-known sibling to the house's better-known Lady of the Glen. The casks were filled on 5 July 2011 and left to rest for twelve years before being bottled on 25 September 2023 under the direction of Gregor Hannah. That yielded a total of 683 numbered bottles from this limited small batch release.

Because the casks had already held whisky before, they work quietly in the background. They draw less colour and tannin from the wood than a first-fill cask would, letting Glen Moray's own light, fruity character stand out clearly. The whisky is bottled without chill-filtration or added colour, so everything - from nose to finish - comes straight from spirit and wood.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose opens with honey and ripe white grapes, quickly followed by crisp notes of caramel wafer and a hint of toasted pecans.

Palate

On the palate it's full-bodied and slightly oily, with caramel wafer and honey up front, while black pepper offers a spicy counterpoint to the sweetness.

Finish

The finish lands on toasted walnut and a lingering touch of pepper that stays long after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Dalgety Glen Moray 12 Year Speyside Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Glen Moray
Bottler: Hannah Whisky Merchants
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Year
ABV: 52.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Refill Hogsheads
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 5 July 2011
Bottled: 25 September 2023
Number of bottles: 683
Edition: Dalgety - Limited Release, Small Batch

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Nutty · Spicy

Investment Potential

Medium - independent bottlings from a well-regarded house like Hannah Whisky Merchants, known for Lady of the Glen, attract collectors. With only 683 bottles, cask strength, and neither colouring nor filtration, this release fits well into a collection of small, limited bottlings.

Did You Know?

Beneath Glen Moray's distillery in Elgin lies a grim piece of history: the site was once home to the town's gallows, and when workers excavated for a new warehouse in 1962, they uncovered seven skulls - one with a musket ball lodged in the jaw.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Dalgety Glen Moray 12 Year

What makes Dalgety Glen Moray 12 Year a rare bottling?

It's a standalone, independent bottling limited to just 683 numbered bottles from Hannah Whisky Merchants' Dalgety series - not a release Glen Moray itself has put its name to. Once these bottles are gone, there won't be more from this exact pair of casks.

How does a refill hogshead differ from a first-fill cask?

A refill cask has already given up most of its own flavour to an earlier filling, so it draws less colour and tannin out this time round. That lets Glen Moray's own fruity spirit character take the lead, rather than being covered by heavy oak flavour.

Should Dalgety Glen Moray 12 Year be drunk neat or with ice?

Try it neat first, or with a few drops of water at room temperature - at 52.5% that opens up the honey and grape aromas without diluting them too much. Ice mutes both the sweetness and the spice more than a whisky of this strength deserves.

Which glass suits this whisky best?

A narrow glass such as a Glencairn glass concentrates the aroma, letting honey, caramel and pepper separate on the nose. See our range of whisky glasses.

Does Dalgety Glen Moray 12 Year pair with food?

The honeyed, nutty character suits mature cheese, especially cheddar or goat's cheese, as well as desserts built around caramel or apple. The spicy black pepper finish also makes it a fine match for dark chocolate.

Who is behind the Dalgety series?

Dalgety is a smaller series from the independent bottler Hannah Whisky Merchants, founded by Gregor Hannah in 2012. The company is best known for its flagship Lady of the Glen, but uses the Dalgety name - taken from Dalgety Bay in Fife, where its warehouses sit - for selected single-cask releases like this one.

Where is Glen Moray Distillery, and what defines its style?

The distillery sits on the River Lossie just outside Elgin in Speyside and has been distilling since 1897. Its style is typically light, fruity and unpeated, which makes it a good foundation for a bottling meant to show the cask's work clearly.