First pour: Glen Moray adds Calvados twist to Speyside whisky and it’s a toffee apple treat

Glen Moray hopes to temp whisky fans with the latest addition to its Xperience Collection, Forbidden Fruit. This novel single malt is finished in casks that previously held Calvados, the historic apple brandy of Normandy.

The whisky continues the Elgin distillery’s long-running interest in cask experimentation. Forbidden Fruit follows earlier Xperience Collection bottlings Phoenix Rising, which explored charred oak, and Twisted Vine, matured in Cognac casks. With this latest expression, the distillery turns its attention to apple brandy and the distinctive flavour influence it can bring to Scotch whisky.

The Luxe Review had the opportunity to taste the whisky early during a virtual session hosted by Brand ambassador Iain Allan. The format may have been digital, but the dram itself felt comfortably old-fashioned.

Forbidden Fruit begins life as Glen Moray spirit matured in traditional bourbon casks before undergoing a finishing period in French oak barrels that once held Calvados…

A Speyside distillery with a taste for experimentation

Founded in 1897 on the banks of the River Lossie in Elgin, Glen Moray Distillery has spent much of the past century refining a house style known for gentle fruitiness and approachability. In recent years the distillery has also expanded its range into several themed collections, each exploring a different aspect of maturation and flavour.

The Xperience Collection is designed to showcase unusual cask influences and invites drinkers to explore the interaction between wood and spirit.

Forbidden Fruit begins life as Glen Moray spirit matured in traditional bourbon casks, before undergoing a finishing period in French oak barrels that once held Calvados. The result is a bottling that draws on the orchard character of the apple brandy, while maintaining the smooth Speyside style for which the distillery is known.

“Interestingly, the Glen Moray New Make spirit, if I’m asked to describe that in two words, it’s toffee apple. So we’re already starting with a New Make that has a baseline characteristic of apples within it,” explains Allan. “It’s got a lovely kind of green apple note within the Glen Moray New Make spirit. So with Calvados, what we expected prior to filling these casks was to accentuate that, to really kind of embolden that apple note within the New Make spirit. And I think this whisky does that wonderfully well.”

The use of Calvados casks has only recently become possible for Scotch whisky producers. For many years, regulations set by the Scotch Whisky Association limited the types of casks permitted for maturation.

Rule changes introduced in 2019 expanded that list to include casks previously used for spirits such as Calvados, tequila and mezcal. For distillers interested in exploring new flavour territory, the update opened the door to a fresh category of finishing casks.

Forbidden Fruit takes full advantage. As Allan explains: “Forbidden Fruit is roughly seven years old. We’re looking at five years in bourbon, a mix of first and second fill American white oak, then two years finishing in Calvados casks.”

The resulting liquid blends apple sweetness, and spice with the distillery’s signature vanilla character.

“Five years or so maturing in bourbon cask is roughly the age of our Classic expression. So you’re getting within it a lovely kind of sweet vanilla, a kind of slight, kind of gingery characteristic. And then we get the Calvados influence going through on it.” 

Intriguingly, Allan adds: “We’ve got some longer mature stock. So there’s an opportunity… so we’ll, you know, possibly be looking at a fully matured release in the future. Who knows?” 

The name carries a small note of humour within the brand’s history. Brand ambassador Iain Allan notes that the title also nods to a brief controversy surrounding an ill-fated 2017 cider-cask experiment, which generated industry debate but also brought wider attention to the distillery’s willingness to explore unconventional maturation.

Glen Moray Forbidden Fruit tasting notes

On the nose there’s an unmistakable orchard character. Green apples lead the way, followed by toffee, apple blossom perfume and the aroma of sweet French pastries. Imagine sauntering past a patisserie window on a bright spring morning.

On the palate, the whisky becomes wonderfully dessert-like. Apple pie and baking spice appear alongside vanilla custard and barley sugar, with a faint suggestion of wood tannin, and a delicate acidity that keeps the sweetness in check.

The finish lingers. Initial spice fades into soft oak notes, joined by poached pears and honey.

Forbidden Fruit sits comfortably in the easy-drinking territory Glen Moray has cultivated for years. It retains the distillery’s familiar smoothness, while the Calvados influence introduces an orchard freshness that should appeal both to casual drinkers and those curious about cask experimentation.

At 40% ABV it’s also approachable and versatile. There’s no doubt it will work well in cocktails or long drinks, and is easy to imagine it as a refreshing summer highball, where the apple character would sit naturally alongside soda and ice.

Glen Moray Forbidden Fruit sells for £32, and is available from Master of Malt and selected stores operated by Morrisons across Scotland.