Glen Moray Twisted Vine - 40%

From the distillery

On the rows of intricately twisted vines which criss-cross Cognac's countryside in France, luscious grapes ripen under the sun. Harvested, distilled, then aged in oak, they create cognac's revered flavour. Twisted Vine, matured in casks which once held cognac, is a tribute to that treasured spirit.

Tasting notes

Appearance: New gold, forms a thin line which slowly falls as an inverted crown of thick, oily legs.

Nose: Sweet, sticky dates with California raisins, honey, lightly roasted coffee, a touch of caramel and cinnamon spice.

Palate: Mouthcoatingly oily, follows on well from the nose. The nutty coffee notes, sultanas, honey and vanilla dominate at first, mildly drying tannic oak follows with a peppery heat.

Finish: Dried dark fruits and oak spice linger.

Summary: Cognac cask maturation and finishing seem to be in fashion at the moment with a number of recent bottlings coming onto the market. Having tried a number over the last few months I would say the results are better in some cases than others, for me this is one of those whiskies where it really works. The cask influence is very much in evidence and provides a good level of both complexity and balance. For a whisky with an abv of only 40% the mouthfeel is quite exceptional, whilst the interplay of coffee, vanilla and sweet, dried fruit notes make this an extremely enjoyable dram.

These days, Glen Moray is one of those rare distilleries that still manage to provide quality whisky at prices which are accessible to everyone. Sitting at a price point below £30, Twisted Vine is a whisky that provides plenty of bang for the buck. 

If you would like to know more about Glen Moray and their whiskies, follow the link to the company website.

Transparency: this sample was received free of charge for independent review. The author has no affiliation with the distillers and no goods or other incentives were exchanged, offered or requested.