Drinking whisky is an experience that involves most of the senses — sight, smell, touch, and taste. But Glen Moray is also getting sound involved in whisky tasting in a special collaboration to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its visitor centre.

 

The Elgin-based distillery has teamed up with whisky writer, consultant, and musician Felipe Schrieberg to create a series of playlists to listen to while drinking a glass of whisky.

 

Iain Allan, Glen Moray's global brand ambassador and visitor centre manager, and David McLauchlan, key account manager, worked with Schrieberg to create a series of short playlists, designed for occasions from a quiet contemplative drink to a 'whisky party'. Full track lists can be found below.

 

Schrieberg and fellow musician Paul Archibald, who together founded musical act the Rhythm and Booze Project and independent bottler Rhythm and Booze Records, will be performing and hosting a music and whisky gig and tasting for the visitor centre's anniversary celebrations on 6 July.

 

Schrieberg said: "So much about enjoying whisky doesn't just come down to knowing how it was made, or how 'fancy' it might be — the context in which you're drinking it can play just as important a role. In this way, music is the ultimate context creator. Different sounds, tones, and frequencies can radically shift the way your brain perceives the world around it, including the whisky you're smelling and tasting. As a result, there [are] few greater joys than pairing whiskies and music together." 

 

Here are Glen Moray and Schrieberg's top 20 tracks:

 

A whisky party

David Bowie — Ashes to Ashes

Prince — I Feel for You  

Bob Seger — Old Time Rock and Roll

Gary Clark Jr & Junkie XL — Come Together

The Black Crowes — Hard to Handle

 

Chill with a dram

Carole King — It's Too Late

Eddy Vedder — Society

Noah Kahan — Stick Season

Zac Brown Band — Toes

Dionne Warwick — Walk On By

 

Emotional moments

Bill Withers — Lean on Me

Chris Stapleton — Tennessee Whiskey

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds — Red Right Hand

Fleetwood Mac — Landslide
The Beatles — Here Comes the Sun

 

Reflections with a dram

Tom Waits – I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love with You

Glen Campbell — Wichita Lineman

Chris Stapleton — South Dakota

James Bay — Let It Go

Andy Shauf — The Magician

 

The Glen Moray visitor centre will be holding special tours and tastings on 6 and 7 July. To book tickets to see the Rhythm and Booze performance on 6 July, go to fareharbor.com.

 

 

Allan has also given his five favourite combinations to accompany tracks on the playlists:

 

Black Crowes — Hard to Handle with Glen Moray Port Cask Finish: At a party you need a whisky that is welcoming for all and what better choice than the Glen Moray Port Cask Finish. Also, what better tune to kick off a gathering than this Otis Reading cover. 

 

Dionne Warwick — Walk On By with Glen Moray 15 Years Old: Smooth tones need a smooth dram and here we can pull out the Glen Moray 15 Years Old, which effortlessly marries sherry- and bourbon-aged whisky to create a wonderful kaleidoscope of flavours.

 

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds — Red Right Hand with Glen Moray 21 Years Old: A song that is considered one of the best from one of the world’s best bands needs a whisky which is just as highly revered. The award-winning Glen Moray 21 Years Old is more than a match for such a classic. This whisky has spent most of its maturation in bourbon barrels creating a rich, sweet profile that is enhanced by a couple years of finishing in the finest tawny port casks.

 

Tom Waits — I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love with You. Ahh Tom Waits! In my opinion, probably the artist best suited for kicking back and enjoying a dram. It has to be something smoky for this one, to evoke the feeling of a moody bar with Tom at the piano. The new Glen Moray Warehouse 1 Peated Rioja fits the bill just nicely: a smoky, cask strength whisky that has a powerful edge but also has an elegant richness to it.