Glen Moray and Glenfiddich

 
One of my favourite distilleries is Glen Moray, even more so after our previous trip in May 2019. At home we have three Glen Moray whiskies: traditional, Fired Oak and my favourite Chardonnay cask, but it is always good to discover more.

This was the only distillery we actually took a tour of; the whisky process is the same in all distilleries, the difference being the shape of the stills and the finishing casks. As with most places we visited Glen Moray is very picturesque but noisy too as we visited on a working day with lorries and fork lifts moving about giving warning hoots on the horns as they went.

We were shown how the grain is turned into grist and then mash before going through the stills to become a clear alcoholic spirit ... whisky gets its colour from ageing in the various casks and a spirit cannot be called whisky until it has been maturing for 3 years and 1 day.

Scotland's Covid restrictions are higher than here at home and because we were in a working environment we had to wear our masks as well as using hand gel on entering any building. This isn't quite the 'still' photo we expected to take but it will certainly bring back memories in years to come. 

The final part of our tour was into the Duty Free Warehouse. No tax is paid on whisky until it is bottled so this warehouse is kept under lock and key. Each barrel is recorded and regularly checked as the value for the taxman is very high with the warehouse holding hundreds of barrels until bottling time, in some cases over 20 years.

I find it amazing how the cask changes the clear spirit. The combination of finishes is vast, not only the oak used but the previous contents of the barrel and the amount of charring given to the inside. I am always drawn to a wine cask finish but my favourite is a port cask, I'm not so keen on the sherry cask whiskies but then I'm not keen on sherry.

There were many barrel and whisky examples in the warehouse; these particular ones looked intriguing as not many distilleries use ale or cider casks, and the three wine barrels would always catch my eye. I'll be looking out for these when they are released in a few years' time.

No tour, be it whisky, gin, wine, beer or something else, is complete without a tasting. I was the driver so I could not join in as Scotland has a zero tolerance to drink driving. My tastings were certainly enjoyed by Hubby, along with his two wee dreams that were not so wee. We all selected one whisky from Glen Moray's bottled range with our other tasting from their cask strength whisky which is stored in the cask in the shop. When buying a cask whisky you have the joy of filling the bottle yourself and adding the label, a very personal bottle if you like this stronger spirit

As I said before I do enjoy a port cask whisky so it would have been very remiss to not purchase this set; a great whisky along with two Glen Moray glasses, I do like a branded glass. 

As well as a distillery tour we visited Speyside Cooperage. This is one of four cooperages in the same company but the only one where the coopers are on piece work meaning they are paid per barrel. This is very unusual these days but apparently it is what these coopers want as they enjoy the challenge of producing the quanitiy as well as quality ... the most unpopular cooper is the chap checking the barrels and returning any not right!

This cooperage refurshines barrels to the specific requirements of each distillery, all barrels are made of oak and the coopers check each to see if any staves need replacing. In some cases the barrels are completely taken apart and rebuilt before being charred to the said requirements. It was great to see the coopers at work, they cannot choose which barrel to work on as this could give an advantage given their piece work employment. 

There are so many gifts relating to whisky, some ornaments, some practical, some sadly too big to bring home (a garden table and chair set made from barrels) but I couldn't leave this pourer behind. I wonder which whisky will this be pouring at Christmas? 

A distillery name I have always known, mainly as it was my Dad's favourite malt, but also because it's one of Hubby's favourites is Glenfiddich. Their stag head is an iconic symbol of their brand, there was a stunning wooden pallet sculpture in the grounds ... so striking in the brooding sky.

Entering the Glenfiddich shop the stag head again stood out. I'd love to be writing this blog in that location, a wee dram making it perfect.

In 1887 William Grant, along with his wife, seven sons and two daughters began his dream of owning a distillery. They built the buildings by hand, completing the challenge in a year, William named his distillery Glenfiddich, the Valley of the Deer.

Glenfiddich is still family owned, something that's rare these days. It is one of the most awarded Scotch Whisky and is a name known worldwide.

Glenfiddich have a super range of whisky, as with all distilleries it has various casks and uses different maturation styles. Bottling and branding is also an important side of the whisky industry. Glenfiddich Grande Couronne is a 26 year old aged whisky, finished in French cognac casks. It certainly is a crowning glory, an eye catching bottle with the eye opening price of over £400.

Having a few Glenfiddich bottles at home, namely IPA and Select Cask, but not having time for any tastings we decided to buy miniatures of Glenfiddich 12, 15 and 18 year old and as with the Glenlivet (see my previous post) we'll have a tasting night here at home. 

Two great distilleries, we will certainly be enjoying whiskies from Glen Moray and Glenfiddich here at home ... roll on cold winter nights!