DjangoJohnson
Glen Moray Elgin Heritage 12 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed
April 18, 2022 (edited February 19, 2023)
For as much fun as I have talking and writing about whisky, sometimes I don't want to think. I spend all day at work thinking. I have a wife, and I'm often thinking about her. How's she doing? What would make her happy? I have two young kids, and I'm thinking about them pretty much constantly. What's best for them? How are my actions affecting them? Am I being a decent father? I read a lot of books and when I read I'm thinking. What does this or that mean? What would I do if I were in this character's situation. Sometimes, for as much as I love interesting complex whiskies, I don't want an interesting and complex whisky. Sometimes, I want something like this.
The Glen Moray Elgin Heritage 12 Year was an impulse buy where it was $3 off and there was a $5 coupon stuck to the bottle so I figured that 8$ off a $41 aged scotch wasn't something I could pass up. I likely wouldn't have bought this at full price, if only because tacking another $10 onto $41 gets me the Highland Park 12 when it's on sale. But $33 seemed like I couldn't lose. Even if I ended up having to use this as a mixer. On the bottle it says that this was aged in American Oak and tastes of vanilla and berries, and you get pretty much that. It's watery of course, but isn't that usually a given if you're used to higher proofs and you see 40%? The nose and palate are the same, vanilla and berry and a little bit of taffy, so it's pleasant. Think fruity taffy filling in between layers of a vanilla birthday cake; add to that a little bit of oak astringency on the finish, which is oddly pleasant as well, and what you have here, is a decent tasting pour that you don't have to put much thought into. And isn't that what we all sometimes need at the end of a long day?
If I find this for 33$ again, I might actually pick it up again. But $41 could be pushing it.
32.99
USD
per
Bottle
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Good review, you nailed the profile. I agree, sometimes all you want is a relaxing, easy dram. I don't know if it is available in your area but if you find Strathisla 12 at any time and it seems a fair price give it a try. It's often dissed as too easy and unchallenging but when I'm in the mood for a comfortable whisky it has no rival. The official score it gets here on Distiller is unfairly low at 81, but the aggregate community score of 3.44 is on the money.
I can relate. By the time the weekend comes, I just want to decompress, drink and not think. Hence my reviews have slowed. A simple, straightforward pour can be perfect. Nice review, as always.