INSIGHT INTO GLEN MORAY

OUR LAST STOP IS GLEN MORAY, the newest entrant in the Malt Whisky Trail, located on the banks of the River Lossie amid the mild climate and fertile soil of the Laich of Moray. After imbibing so many ‘wee drams’ through the day, I am feeling slightly buzzed. Charles, my Scottish guide, artfully excuses himself from the proceedings, so I am left to traipse around on my own. My spirits are lifted by the vivacious young guide from Latvia, Leva, who speaks fluent English and offers a fluid explanation. I also bond with Yasunari Kodama, a young Japanese engineer. In broken English, oiled by fumes of Scotch, Kodama and I debate the relative merits of Yamazaki versus The Macallan 18-year-olds and become friends in the process.

In terms of production, Glen Moray appears to lie somewhere between The Macallan and Benromach, with great emphasis laid on the human element in crafting the whisky but also with more than a nod to the automation of the distillation process. It is also quite an innovative brand and has experimented with maturing its spirit in all sorts of wooden casks, including bourbon, American oak, sherry, port, and even red and white wine. During the tasting session, we sample the Cabernet Cask Finish from the Classic collection and the Fired Oak from the Heritage collection.

As I head back into the Scottish drizzle, I understand why the Scots invented their own signature whiskies. The spirits do need a lift here.

Glen Moray is located on the banks of the River Lossie.