Glen Moray
The Story
Situated on the banks of the River Lossie just outside Elgin, the unofficial capital of Speyside, Glen Moray is a distillery with a wonderfully rich history. It originally began life as the Elgin West Brewery in 1828 before being converted into a whisky distillery in 1897 during the height of the late Victorian whisky boom.
After a brief closure in the early 20th century, the distillery was purchased by Macdonald and Muir in 1923, who also owned Glenmorangie. In 2004, French luxury goods giant LVMH acquired the parent company, but they soon sold Glen Moray to La Martiniquaise in 2008. This change in ownership sparked a magnificent renaissance. La Martiniquaise has invested heavily in the site, massively expanding its production capacity to make it one of the top ten largest distilleries in Scotland. Today, it operates as a crucial engine room for popular blends like Label 5 and Cutty Sark, while its highly decorated single malt brand continues to win over a massive global audience.
The Character & Production
Glen Moray produces a quintessential Speyside spirit that is light, grassy, incredibly smooth and highly approachable. The distillery operates a large and modernised stillhouse featuring four wash stills and six spirit stills, producing a bright and fruity new make spirit that acts as the ultimate blank canvas for maturation.
Where Glen Moray truly excels is in its mastery of cask finishing. Long before it became an industry trend, the distillery was pioneering the use of diverse wood types to elevate its light spirit. Today, their famous “Warehouse 1” expressions showcase an incredible spirit matured in everything from traditional ex bourbon and sherry casks to Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Port, Madeira and even Rhum Agricole casks. While the vast majority of their output is unpeated, they do dedicate a brief ten day window every year to producing a peated run, adding another layer of versatility to their portfolio.
The Facts
Capacity: 6.5 to 8.5 Million Litres Per Annum
Malt Specification: Predominantly unpeated (with a small annual peated run)
Mash Tun: Stainless steel semi lauter
Stills: 10 (4 Wash, 6 Spirit)
Condenser Type: Shell and tube
Heat Source: Steam
Washbacks: 10 (8 Wooden, 2 Stainless steel)
Fermentation Time: Approximately 75 hours
Water Source: River Lossie
Malt Specification: Predominantly unpeated (with a small annual peated run)
Mash Tun: Stainless steel semi lauter
Stills: 10 (4 Wash, 6 Spirit)
Condenser Type: Shell and tube
Heat Source: Steam
Washbacks: 10 (8 Wooden, 2 Stainless steel)
Fermentation Time: Approximately 75 hours
Water Source: River Lossie
Performance & Returns
Because Glen Moray produces such a high volume of spirit, it has historically been priced incredibly competitively, earning a reputation as one of the best value single malts on the market. However, this accessibility is exactly what makes it such a brilliant prospect for investors looking for strong entry value.
As La Martiniquaise continues to push the brand into premium territory through its experimental Warehouse 1 releases and older age statements, the global perception of Glen Moray is rapidly elevating. An independently held cask of Glen Moray offers an exceptional, cost effective entry point into the Speyside market. If you hold a cask for a medium to long term period, particularly if it is resting in an interesting wine or port finish, the return potential is fantastic as the spirit matures into a highly complex and desirable dram.
“A Speyside powerhouse famous for its approachable style and mastery of cask maturation. Backed by massive recent investment and offering brilliant entry value, an independently held cask of Glen Moray provides investors with a highly versatile, high growth asset from one of Scotland’s top volume producers.”
