Glen Moray’s Tempting New Twist on Single Malt: Speyside favourite launches Twisted Vine Cognac Cask matured whisky

Glen Moray single malt Scotch whisky has been given a delicious twist with the unveiling today of Glen Moray Twisted Vine. Of course Glen Moray are not novices when it comes to pushing the boat out when it comes to experimentation. A passion for experimentation and a deep knowledge of wood have been passed down through generations of Glen Moray distillers.

This new expression features Glen Moray’s smooth, balanced, Speyside whisky with the richness and depth of flavour that comes from maturation in ex-Cognac casks: made from oak grown near Cognac's vineyards in France.

Inspiration for Twisted Vine came from Glen Moray’s long history as an explorer of unusual cask maturation: a practice their teams have been pioneering right back to the Distillery’s origins in 1897. The resulting dram is the perfect marriage of spirit and cask wood: sweet and woody with notes of dried fruit, nuts and spice, adding a luscious new dimension to the Elgin-based distillery’s popular, easy drinking dram.

Smell: After a couple of swills I stuck my hooter into my cut glass tumbler and got what every person gets when they try and smell whisky, vanilla notes. But as I've said many times before, if you ask any whisky expert what a whisky tastes like and they say "vanilla notes" you know they're full of it. It's like calling a fragrance "fresh", or a film "in focus". 

Smell: But there is certainly a sweetness to it, compounded by the cinnamon and honey. There is supposed to be apple juice in there but I didn't get that. 

Taste: It's an assault on the senses. A lot to unpack, but immediately you're off to the races with a velvety smooth sweet beginning, quickly followed with fig and christmas cake. (Must be the raisons). It has a moment of green citrus that grounds it, but then the old oak casts comes in on top to cement it fully.  I loved the journey this liquid took me on and it al made total sense. 

Thoughts: A highly accessible whisky that stands on its own two feet. Very rich in flavour, some dark qualities also, it's not saccharin, its not too "black tie" and not pretentious in any way. Lots of adventure, a good conversation stimulator and very moorish. 

Price: £28. Probably the best priced whisky on the market right now. 

Glen Moray Global Ambassador and Visitor Centre Manager Iain Allan said: ‘The record books show that Glen Moray was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to explore the effects of unusual casks on maturation of our spirit. This playful, pioneering approach to flavour is very much part of what drinkers love about our whiskies today, and it’s why we are so thrilled to be unveiling this wonderful new expression.  

‘Twisted Vine is matured in Cognac casks, and all that extra time in such fruity, flavourful wood has created a stunning whisky with a rich but accessible flavour that can be enjoyed by everyone. It’s perfect neat as a dram, mixed in a cocktail or as a special gift for anyone looking to put a twist on their classic whisky serve’.

Twisted Vine will be available in Asda, Morrisons and Coop stores across the UK as well as specialist whisky and spirits outlets. Bottled in 70cl at 40% ABV, RRP: £28.

The new whisky will also be available in the UK on-trade, and mixologists from four of the nation’s leading whisky bars have put their own twist on this versatile whisky to create a Twisted Vine cocktail in celebration of the launch. Single malt fans can try one of these special Twisted Vine creations at the following:

• The Racketeer, London

• Nauticus, Edinburgh

• The Gate, Glasgow

• The Tippling House, Aberdeen