Glen Moray has recently launched Forbidden Fruit, a 7 year old whisky that has been finished in Calvados casks.
Fans of the brand will remember the now iconic Glen Moray cider cask experiment, where the brand released a cider cask matured whisky which, unknowingly to them at the time, went against SWA guidelines. It has gone on to achieve cult status and is a sought-after bottling.
“We got into trouble by using cider casks in 2017 so apples are a bit of a forbidden fruit for us,” laughed global brand ambassador Iain Allen during a tasting of this new release.
As the third whisky from the Distillery’s playful Xperience Collection, Forbidden Fruit continues Glen Moray’s journey of cask exploration and follows the acclaimed releases of Phoenix Rising and Twisted Vine - respectively tributes to charred oak and cognac cask maturation.
Mr Allen added that this was Glen Moray’s “most contemporary” whisky in the series as charred oak and cognac casks were “something we’d have been using anyway” but calvados only became approved by the SWA in 2019 along with tequila and mescal.
Using calvados casks from sister distillery Maison Busnel in Normandy - Glen Moray is owned by La Martiniquaise who also own Maison Busnel - the whisky has been matured for five years in bourbon casks before a two year finish in these calvados casks.
The resulting dram brims with notes of orchard fruits, sweet French pastries and fresh flowers, introducing an enticing new facet to the Elgin-based distillery’s much loved, easy drinking spirit. It’s a lovely sipping whisky that also works well in long drinks ideal for warmer days.
The bold packaging brings the whisky’s story vividly to life. A scarlet apple takes centre stage against Glen Moray’s classic dark blue, and the fabled forbidden fruit is artfully cradled by delicate golden leaves, as a sinuous serpent winds its way through the design.
Mr Allen added: “Cask exploration has been a huge part of the Glen Moray Distillery story for over a century, and Forbidden Fruit is a wonderful new testament to this heritage.
“It is a sweet, spicy and very morish single malt which we’re sure will be a tempting treat for whisky fans to explore, whether they are connoisseurs or new to single malts.”
Glen Moray Forbidden Fruit is available from specialist whisky retailers throughout the UK and in Morrisons stores across Scotland from April. Bottled in 70cl at 40% ABV, RRP: £32
Read more: Meet the Distiller: Stephen Woodcock from Glen Moray Distillery
