Glen Moray 8 Year

Rating: 8/23 I tried the NAS Glen Moray Port Cask Finish in a bar a while back and quite enjoyed it, especially at its $23 price tag. It's still the only Glen Moray I've tried, so I'm looking forward to this one. N: Sweet, but mild. Pears hit me first, then some restrained minerals. A bit of a nectar sweetness builds out, like it wants to be malty, but isn't quite. Ooh, I start to get some wood bitterness and tannic spice. A bit of vanilla as well. This isn't all that complex or refined, but the notes balance well and I'm expecting it to be a good showing for an 8 year old scotch. A hint of wax. P: Oh, this burns more than I'd expected. There's a definite spicy bite here and also a bit of harshness. It isn't as sweet as I'd thought it would be either. The spiciness is on the earthier side, with a hint of chili even. Not a lot is going on here. I wouldn't call this malty, but there is a bitterness that makes me think more of malt than of wood, if that makes sense. F: Boring. Continued heat with a bit of that chili earthiness. Some of that bitterness. A mild note of sugar water, possibly with a little bit of minerality. - Conclusion - This isn't actively difficult to drink, but it sure isn't enjoyable. Monkey Shoulder (15/23 (huh, I thought I remembered putting it at a 14)) absolutely blows this out of the water with greater fullness, richness, sweetness, and complexity. This isn't challenging, but that comparison really drives home how vapid it is. I do get a little bit of maltiness finally though when I place the two side by side. Dudognon Reserve (10/23) is also definitely better than this is, with its richer and more interesting fruits. I'm considering a 9, but leaning toward an 8. I've lost my faith in Glen Moray.