Glen Moray 2008/2021 Lady of the Glen 12 year old Single Speyside Malt Whisky 57,1%

One cask, no finish, no detour. Lady of the Glen is otherwise known for giving casks a final push in sherry or port, but here number 5586 was left alone for twelve years. 214 bottles, and that was that.

The expert's description

Glen Moray 2008/2021 Lady of the Glen 12 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a single 1st fill bourbon barrel, bottled at cask strength 57.1%.

The cask was filled in 2008 and emptied in 2021 — bourbon barrel number 5586, which gave 214 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. A 1st fill cask at twelve years is a tight combination: the wood still has plenty to give, and the age is just long enough for it to come together rather than stay raw.

Glen Moray in Elgin is one of the higher-output distilleries in Speyside, and a large share of the spirit ends up in blends. That is exactly why single cask bottlings from independent bottlers are one of the better ways to meet the spirit without colouring and filtration — you get what the cask made, not what a blender decided.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla and coconut first, classic 1st fill bourbon. Behind that sit green apple, pear and a trace of lemon peel, plus a warm note of freshly baked cake.

Palate

Powerful and sweet without being cloying. Honey, vanilla and apple, with coconut and a touch of white pepper that the cask strength pushes forward. Cereal malt sits underneath and holds it in place.

Finish

Long and warm. Vanilla and pear giving way slowly to a dry, spiced American oak close.

Specifications

Name: Glen Moray 2008/2021 Lady of the Glen 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 57.1%
Distillery: Glen Moray
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon barrel
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2008
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 214
Edition: Single Cask no. 5586

Flavour profile

Vanilla-sweet · Fruity · Coconut · Spiced · Cask Strength

Did you know?

Lady of the Glen does not stick to single malt alone. The range has also carried single grain from North British, which is rare among small bottlers — grain whisky is normally swallowed by blends and never appears under its own name.

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Frequently asked questions about Glen Moray 2008/2021 Lady of the Glen 12 Year Old

Should I add water to this whisky?

Yes, give it a try. At 57.1% there is plenty to work with, and a couple of drops open the vanilla and apple noticeably. Taste it neat first so you have a reference point, then add a little at a time.

What does single cask mean here?

That all the whisky in the bottle comes from one barrel — bourbon barrel number 5586. There is no blending and no way to adjust the result, so the bottle shows exactly what that one cask ended up with. That is also why the outturn is limited.

Is twelve years young for a cask strength bottling?

Twelve years is at the younger end, but a 1st fill bourbon barrel leaves plenty of wood imprint. You get more fruit and more freshness than in an older bottling, and the cask strength supplies the weight that age would otherwise have provided.

How does it differ from Glen Moray's own bottlings?

It is unfiltered, uncoloured and at cask strength, where the distillery standard releases sit lower and are adjusted to stay consistent from batch to batch. The flavour direction is the same family, but the expression is rawer. See the other Scottish bottlings in our Scotch Whisky selection.

Is it peated?

No. Glen Moray uses unpeated malt for its regular bottlings, and there is no peat in this one. The spiced edge in the finish comes from the cask and the strength.

Does it work as a gift?

For someone who likes cask strength and knows the single cask format, yes. A cask number and an outturn of 214 bottles are details that get noticed. For someone who prefers gentle drams, 57.1% is at the powerful end.

How long does the bottle keep once opened?

A couple of years without trouble if the cork seals well and the bottle is stored dark. Once less than a third is left it goes faster, because the air in the bottle starts to flatten the whisky. Consider decanting the rest into a smaller bottle.