Glen Moray Distillery

Glen Moray was established in September 1897 in a converted Victorian-era brewery on Bruceland Road, Elgin. The conversion gave the distillery an unusually compact and coherent layout, with the original brewery architecture still visible in the older parts of the site. The distillery changed hands several times during the 20th century.

For much of the late 20th century Glen Moray was owned by the Glenmorangie Company Ltd, who maintained it as a secondary brand while focusing attention on their Ross-shire flagship. In 2008 La Martiniquaise, a large French spirits group, acquired Glen Moray and set about expanding both production capacity and the brand's market presence.

Under French ownership the distillery has been significantly enlarged. Following upgrades completed in 2023, annual capacity reached 8.5 million litres — produced by four wash stills and six spirit stills — making it one of the larger Speyside operations by volume. Despite its scale, Glen Moray maintains a working visitor centre and offers guided tours, often led by distillery craftsmen.

Water for production comes from the River Lossie. The distillery operates four wash stills and six spirit stills. Annual capacity following 2023 upgrades is 8.5 million litres. The large still size contributes a distinctive creaminess to the spirit character. Fermentation produces a fruity, estery new make. Maturation relies primarily on American oak ex-bourbon casks for the core range, with extensive cask finishing experiments carried out under the Explorer and Warehouse 1 ranges. No artificial colouring; Glen Moray bottles at natural colour across most expressions.

Glen Moray produces a classically approachable Speyside character: light, smooth, and creamy with a fruity profile. The large stills contribute a distinctive creaminess alongside the typical Speyside fruitiness. The Classic expression (40% ABV, American oak maturation) is accessible and food-friendly — an ideal entry-level single malt. The Explorer range explores surprising cask finishes including Chardonnay, Rhône, and Cognac; the Warehouse 1 series showcases experimental maturation at higher strengths. Overall the style is described as "light and fruity but with a really lovely sort of creaminess."

The visitor centre is open year-round with guided tours available, sometimes led by distillery craftsmen. Online booking via FareHarbor. Online and physical shop on site. Address: Bruceland Road, Elgin, Moray IV30 1YE.