Glen Moray 2015/2023 - Sansibar
Young whiskies can be exciting - if they are well made. Unfortunately, there are also candidates that taste more like an experiment than a pleasure. The Glen Moray 2015/2023 from Sansibar with a whopping 62% ABV belongs to the second category. What begins as a fruity Speyside dram ends in a questionable cask fiasco.
If you want to buy this bottling, you can use the affiliate link. The price stays the same for you, and we receive a small commission. This helps us cover ongoing costs and stay ad-free. Alcohol is only sold to persons aged 18 and over. ♥️
Buy on AmazonTasting Notes
Nose
The nose gives hope at first. Stone fruit, pear, grape - sounds good! The fruitiness is accompanied by honey and a hint of vanilla, while a grassy freshness adds a touch of vibrancy. Everything seems quite harmonious, even if not particularly deep.
Palate
Tingly, spicy and unbalanced - the 62% are not exactly elegantly integrated. Yes, there is a slight fruitiness, but it is mercilessly drowned out. Instead, there's a chaotic mixture of sharpness and bitterness. A real whipping boy of a whisky.
Finish
After the wild ride... nothing good remains. Old barrel? Mineral? Almost metallic? No matter what has happened here - it doesn't fit together. The bitter-woody finish leaves no lasting impression, except that you wonder why this whisky had to be bottled.
Thoughts
Marcel 69/100 - (Good)
Here you get a wild, almost unruly Speyside youngster that screams more power than enjoyment. It’s only fun to a limited extent, as the Glen Moray 2015/2023 feels like a damp squib, bitterly regretting its cask choice – a dramatic mess without any real harmony.
Sascha 69/100 - (Good)
The Glen Moray 2015/2023 comes across as unbalanced and, due to its high alcohol strength, more sharp than elegant. Despite appealing fruity notes, the overall impression suffers from an incoherent cask character and a bitter, mineral finish that severely disrupts the balance of this young Speyside whisky.
Value for Money: 3/5 (Fair)
Discover our value for money winnersRelated Reviews
-
Glen Spey 2015/2023 - Sansibar
Young whiskies with over 60 % ABV can either be real insider tips or completely impetuous alcohol clubs. The Glen Spey 2015/2023 from Sansibar with 60.1% ABV lies somewhere in between. Sometimes it is round and pleasant, sometimes you wonder whether it could have done with a few more years in the cask.
-
Inchgower 2010/2023 - Sansibar
Sometimes you get a whisky in your glass that feels as if it has just come out of the cask. The Inchgower 2010/2023 from Sansibar with 57.6% ABV is just such a case: young, fresh, straight from nature - but also a little unfinished.
-
GlenAllachie 2009/2022 12 Years - Signatory Vintage
The Glenallachie Distillery is located in the Speyside region of Scotland and was founded in 1967. While for a long time it mainly produced blended whiskies, in recent years it has made a name for itself with independent bottlings and its own single malts. Glenallachie has gained a higher profile, particularly due to the influence of Billy Walker, and is known for its fruity, often sherried whiskies.
-
Tormore 2011 12 Years Spiced vanilla chai cake Cask 105.45 - The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) is known for its unusual and often experimental bottlings. With the Tormore 2011, matured for 12 years and a proud 66.8% ABV, the SMWS has ventured into a powerful yet playful bourbon cask experience. The sonorous name ‘Spiced Vanilla Chai Cake’ raises expectations of a sweet, spicy and deeply layered world of flavours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Glen Moray 2015/2023 taste so unbalanced despite the fruitiness on the nose?
Although the nose shows fruity notes of stone fruit, pear, and grape, the very high alcohol strength of 62% and the unbalanced cask maturation heavily impact the taste. The result is a sharp, bitter, and chaotic mix on the palate that overwhelms the initial fruitiness.
What does it mean that the Glen Moray 2015/2023 is an independent bottling by Sansibar?
An independent bottling means the whisky was not bottled directly by the Glen Moray distillery but by an independent merchant or bottler like Sansibar. These bottlings can be more experimental, sometimes leading to unusual taste experiences, such as this dramatically high alcohol content.
How does the cask influence the quality and flavor of this Glen Moray whisky?
The cask plays a crucial role, and in this whisky, the maturation seems to have been problematic. Signs of an old or poorly suited cask are evident in the bitter-woody, mineral, and almost metallic finish, which negatively shapes the overall impression.