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Scotland’s most modern grain distillery.
Glen Moray
Distillery & brand
Soft and fruity are the key words when talking of Glen Moray which makes it a very amenable partner with American oak.
Glen Moray distillery
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
It is believed that the closeness of the river and the high water table produces a slightly warmer and more humid microclimate which assists maturation. Since the La Martiniquaise takeover [see below] a higher percentage of first-fill American oak is used, adding more buttery notes to the mix. It was one of the first whiskies to be ‘finished’ in wine casks – Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay specifically – as well as Port. After a few quiet years, new releases are beginning to appear. Some peated malt is now being run as well.
Glen Moray History
Although now in the midst of housing, Glen Moray originally sat outwith Elgin’s boundaries (it was where the burgh’s gallows once stood) and started life as a brewery, taking its water and power from the fast-flowing River Lossie alongside. The downside of this watery proximity is the act that the distillery regularly floods.
Its function changed in 1897 as one of the many new distilleries built (or in this case converted) at a time when the whisky boom seemed never-ending. Like many [Imperial, Benriach] it fell victim to the slump which took place at the start of the 20th century and closed in 1910, being snapped up in 1923 by Macdonald & Muir (owner of Glenmorangie).
A large Saladin maltings was installed in 1958 when the number of stills doubled to four. The maltings ran until 1978.
In the latter part of its ownership by Glenmorangie, Glen Moray became the firm’s ‘budget’ malt with a price often the same as standard blends. While sales rose, there was little profit made and the distillery’s image was badly damaged.
In 2008, it was sold to French distilling firm La Martiniquaise, predominantly for fillings for its Label Five and Glen Turner brands. Capacity has since been increased by 40% with new washbacks and another pair of stills being installed.
Timeline
- 1828 West Brewery is built on the outskirts of Elgin
- 1897 The brewery is converted into a distillery, Glen Moray
- 1910 The distillery is closed
- 1923 The site is purchased by Glenmorangie owner Macdonald & Muir and begins distilling again
- 1958 Glen Moray's stills are doubled to four and a Saladin box is installed
- 1978 Just 20 years after installing a Saladin box, Glen Moray's maltings are decommissioned
- 1996 Macdonald & Muir changes its name to Glenmorangie
- 1999 Glen Moray introduces its first wood finishes – Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc
- 2004 French luxury goods group Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) buys Glenmorangie
- 2008 LVMH sells Glen Moray distillery to La Martiniquaise
- 2014 Glen Moray Classic Port Finish is released
- 2015 Glen Moray Classic Peated is launched
Glen Moray Facts
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- Capacity (mlpa) i
- 3.3
-
- Condenser Type i
- Tube
-
- Fermentation Time i
- 60hrs
-
- Filling Strength i
- 63.4%
-
- Grist Weight (t) i
- 7.5
-
- Heat Source i
- Steam from gas and oil
-
- Malt Specification i
- No phenols
-
- Malt Supplier i
- Boort Malt, Crisp, Bairds and Muntons
-
- Mash Tun Type i
- Semi Lauter
-
- New-make Strength i
- 69%
-
- Spirit Still Charge (l) i
- 5,500
-
- Spirit Still Shape i
- Onion
-
- Spirit Still Size (l) i
- 6,000
-
- Stills i
- 6
-
- Warehousing i
- Dunnage and palletised
-
- Wash Still Charge (l) i
- 9,500
-
- Wash Still Shape i
- Onion
-
- Wash Still Size (l) i
- 10,000
-
- Washback Size (l) i
- 55,000
-
- Washbacks i
- 9
-
- Water Source i
- River Lossie
-
- Wort Clarity i
- Clear
-
- Yeast Type i
- Mauri Distiller's Yeast
Owners
Parent company
- La Martiniquaise 2008 - present
Current owner
Previous owners
- LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton 2004 - 2008
- The Glenmorangie Company 1996 - 2004
- Macdonald & Muir 1923 - 1996
- Glen Moray Glenlivet Distillery Co 1897 - 1923
Contact
- Address
-
Glen Moray Distillery
Bruceland Road
Elgin
Moray
IV30 1YE
United Kingdom - Phone
- +44 1343 550900
- Visitor Opening Hours
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- Monday
- 9am to 5pm
- Tuesday
- 9am to 5pm
- Wednesday
- 9am to 5pm
- Thursday
- 9am to 5pm
- Friday
- 9am to 5pm
- Saturday
- 10am to 4.30pm (May-Sept)
- Sunday
- Closed
Map
See also
-
Distillery