Maker: Mortlach, Dufftown, Moray, Scotland, UK (Diageo)
Bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, Elgin, Moray, Scotland, UK
Region: Speyside- Dufftown
ABV: 43%
Price: $75 (Binny’s)
Appearance: Dark gold
Nose: Sweet malt, wildflowers, oak, caramel.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel. Brown butter, wildflower honey, beef bullion, alcohol.
Finish: alcohol, butterscotch, vanilla cream, toasted oak.
Parting words: Mortlach was one of the malts that made me reconsider my dislike of Speysiders. This bottling is an excellent example of why I fell in love with this distillery. Meatiness is a house characteristic of Mortlach and it’s in evidence in this bottling. It’s not heavy-handed, though. There’s plenty of sweetness and oak to round it off nicely. It’s complex without being busy. The price is high (for me) but not completely out of whack for a high-quality single malt and cheaper than the new distillery bottlings are going for. If you like the heavier Speyside style and see one of these pick it up. G & M’s 15 y/o Mortlach is recommended.
Sipology 