Glen Moray Elgin Curiosity Rye Cask Finish Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 46,3%

Rye casks are not something you run into in Speyside. Bourbon yes, sherry yes, port maybe — but casks that have held American rye whiskey remain a rarity. Glen Moray brought some over from Kentucky and let spirit from 2016 finish in them.

The expert's description

Glen Moray Elgin Curiosity Rye Cask Finish is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in Kentucky rye whiskey casks and bottled at 46.3%.

The spirit dates from 2016 and had its final maturation in casks that previously held American rye whiskey. Rye behaves differently from corn: where bourbon casks lay vanilla and coconut into the whisky, rye casks bring pepper, cinnamon and a drier spice note. The outturn is 1,637 bottles, and the whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Curiosity is the range where Glen Moray tests limits rather than repeats itself. The distillery has run cask trials as a standing part of the work for years, and the Curiosity releases have included casks from Chenin Blanc wine and rhum agricole. The rye casks here belong to the more successful end of those experiments.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft vanilla met by fresh lemon peel and a clear peppery note. The rye registers immediately — there is something sharp and dry sitting on top of the soft Speyside base.

Palate

Caramel and oak first, then forest fruit and a peppery middle. The rye character gives the whisky an edge it would not otherwise have had, and the citrus note keeps things fresh.

Finish

Medium and spiced. Pepper and cinnamon drying out slowly, with a final hint of caramel.

Specifications

Name: Glen Moray Elgin Curiosity Rye Cask Finish Speyside Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 46.3%
Distillery: Glen Moray
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in Kentucky rye whiskey casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2016
Number of bottles: 1,637
Edition: Elgin Curiosity - Limited Edition
EAN no.: 5060116324495

Flavour profile

Spiced · Peppery · Caramel · Fruity · Fresh

Did you know?

The Curiosity range has not only been about rye. Glen Moray has also put out releases using Chenin Blanc wine casks and rhum agricole casks under the same name, and at one point the three were sold together as a tasting set so the cask types could be lined up side by side.

See our full range of Glen Moray

Frequently asked questions about Glen Moray Elgin Curiosity Rye Cask Finish

What do rye casks do to a single malt?

They add pepper, cinnamon and a dry spice note, where bourbon casks give vanilla and coconut. Rye is a different grain with markedly more spice in it, and even a used rye cask gives up enough to change the direction clearly. The result is less sweet and sharper at the edge.

What does Curiosity mean at Glen Moray?

It is the distillery range for cask trials. Where Elgin Heritage is about age, Curiosity is about trying cask types that do not belong to the standard repertoire — wine casks, rum casks and here rye casks. The releases are limited and rarely repeated.

Is there an age statement on the bottle?

No. The distillation year 2016 is given, but no number of years appears on the label. That is common for cask trials, where the length of the finish can vary from batch to batch.

How does it taste compared with an ordinary Speyside?

More spiced and with a clearer dryness. The soft, fruit-sweet Speyside base is still there, but the rye casks lay a peppery edge on top that you do not meet in a classic bourbon-matured Speyside. See the other Scottish styles in our Scotch Whisky selection.

Is it peated?

No. Glen Moray uses unpeated malt, and there are no peat notes. The sharpness you meet comes from the rye casks, not from smoke — a common mix-up, because both can read as dry and spicy.

Does it work in a cocktail?

Surprisingly well, yes. The peppery spice from the rye casks holds up in an Old Fashioned, where a soft Speyside can otherwise turn dull. But it is also good enough to drink neat, so judge for yourself whether to put it in a drink.

Who is it interesting for?

For the curious drinker who has tried bourbon and sherry-matured whisky and wants to see what other casks can do. It is not a classic, but it is a good demonstration of how much difference a cask’s previous life makes.