Alexander Murray Glen Moray 13 Year Cask Strength Review
In-Depth Review
Sometimes you find incredible things at Trader Joes. Maybe it’s the cookie butter, the vegan ice cream, or the flowers you’ve never seen before. Every once in a while though, you can find something magic in the liquor aisle of your local TJ’s.
At about this time last year, I found this bottling sitting on the shelf for a measly $35. It came with the traditional Alexander Murray label (not a Trader Joes label), and was cask strength! I thought – “how could this be?”. I had never had a Glen Moray before, but I figured for $35, I could take a risk on a 13 year old independent bottling of a distillery I’s never tried.
It’s important to note that Alexander Murray already does most of Trader Joes and Costco’s private label bottlings. I was no stranger to their great expressions but found it surprising that TJ’s was selling one of their non-branded products. But sometimes when a distributor is trying to free up inventory space, we all win.
Age: 13 Years
ABV: 53.4%
Cask: Likely Ex-Bourbon
MSRP: $35 at Trader Joes
Distillery Name: Glen Moray
Review Date: 11/23/20
Color: Straw
Nose: Light, grassy, herbal, coconut with soft a tinge of vanilla. Very malt and cereal forward with floral notes, citrus, and shortbread making an appearance. A complex nose.
Palate: Fiery, malty, vanilla, and grain. The front is hot but eventually it softens into chocolate, orange zest, and a touch of spice. Some of the herbal and grassy notes from the nose do carry over into the palate. The spirit is the star here, with barrel influence taking a backseat. The mouthfeel is on the lighter side with the high proof carrying the mouthfeel. This whiskey holds up well to a small addition of water which brings out more chocolate, fruit, and rounds out the overall palate.
Finish: Medium to long finish with more floral, citrus, and vanilla notes. Without adding water, there is a fair amount of heat on the finish that translates to long, slow pauses between sips.
Final Thoughts: I wish I could go back in time and buy a case of this. Malt forward, with a great nose and lovely finish. This is an incredible whiskey for under $35 bucks. Even at $50 or $70 this would still be excellent. Consider this a PSA to check your Trader Joes liquor aisle for hidden gems like this!
