Does the label "Scotch" matter more, or does an exotic Maple Syrup cask finishing do the trick better? That's what Scotch distillery Glen Moray is asking - and oh boy is that a good (and tricky) question!

In its latest release for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, Glen Moray has dropped two Maple Syrup cask finished bottlings, with one peated and the other un-peated.

Now the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has more recently loosened its regulations on what types of casks can be used to mature whiskies that qualify as Scotch, for example allowing for the use of barrels previously containing Mezcal, Calvados, Shochu and even Baijiu, amongst others - this allowed for Scotch distilleries to keep up with a party that whisky producers outside of Scotland were once exclusively able to dabble in that made them unique. Yet, Maple Syrup casks isn't one of them.

And as such, Scotch whisky matured in Maple Syrup casks can't legally be called Scotch anymore! This means that Glen Moray's latest experiment will instead have to be labelled as Spirit Drink. This isn't the first time Glen Moray's run headfirst at Scotch regulations, having previously matured its whiskies in Cider casks, which also are not approved.

Nevertheless in this latest instance, Glen Moray has released a peated and unpeated version, both having been matured in American oak casks before being finished in casks that previously held Canadian maple syrup.

“We’re always exploring new cask finishes to push the boundaries of flavour. These limited-edition maple syrup casks are a bold example — the maple influence is immediate and unmistakable: rich, syrupy sweetness that adds depth and indulgence, while still allowing the Glen Moray character to shine through.

The unpeated spirit brings out those classic dessert-like notes — fudge, toasted nuts, soft spice — while the peated version is a different experience altogether. The smoke and syrup play off each other nicely, creating a bold and layered dram that’s both sweet and savoury. We love surprising people at Spirit of Speyside — these playful, flavour-packed bottlings show our curiosity as distillers and prove that even after 125 years, we’re still finding new ways to bring flavour to life.” says Iain Allan, Glen Moray's global brand ambassador.

The Glen Moray Peated Maple Cask is bottled at 59.1% ABV, whilst the Unpeated Maple Cask is bottled at 59% ABV, with both available from 30th April 2025, at £90 (US$120).

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team