Mortlach 1997 14 Year (Hart Brothers)

This review pertains to a different, unlisted bottle from Mortlach. Bottle finished on 02/15/19. Distillery: Mortlach Bottler: Duncan Taylor The Octave 16 years old 54.6% ABV (Cask Strength) Distilled 1997 Bottled 2014 Cask No. 797668 Limited run of 88 bottles Cost: 210 USD An Octave cask, as I understand it, is similar to those small 2L oak barrels offered on Amazon for $49.95, used to improve subpar whiskey you regret purchasing… just a bit larger. The fundamental concept, disregarding marketing jargon, is that producers eager for revenue have taken whisky not yet ready for bottling and accelerated its maturation and character development by aging it intensely in a small, confined cask. However, it was effective. While you might call it a shortcut, I won't dismiss a well-tasting whisky. Duncan Taylor must have sourced some excellent small sherry oak staves because this is a rich, figgy, honeyed, buttery Mortlach. The waxy, fruity, meaty spirit character remains evident after the initial sherry influence. The only drawbacks are a lack of cohesion, making it seem like two distinct whiskies, and an underwhelming finish. The sherry fades rapidly, leaving a slight harshness that hints at the immaturity the sherry finish was intended to mask. Adding some water genuinely enhances it. I found that aiming for around 48% ABV hit the sweet spot, smoothing the transitions and eliminating the harshness on the finish. You'll likely be unable to locate this specific cask. The majority, if not all, of the 88 bottles probably ended up in the Hagerstown, MD vicinity. Several other casks of a 16-year-old Duncan Taylor Octave Mortlach are listed on WhiskyBase for different regions. I likely won't purchase another bottle, preferring to explore other releases from The Octave series or other independent bottlings from Mortlach. True Scotch aficionados know that Mortlach is a fantastic choice for independent bottlers, and cask strength releases with a respectable age statement are rarely a bad decision. Score (excluding price): 93 / 100 Purchase satisfaction (including price): 4 / 5

This entry pertains to an independent bottling by Classic Cask, not the Hart Bros listed. This particular one is 11 years old. Mortlach, a distillery in Speyside, is frequently utilized in Johnnie Walker blends. I believe it contributes lighter characteristics and helps neutralize any harsh or offensive flavors in many of their mixtures. This sample is an independent bottling from Classic Cask. It's a relatively young 11 years old and was bottled at 46%. The fact that this malt remains light in nearly every aspect demonstrates how effortlessly drinkable this spirit is. Its appearance in the glass is so pale it's nearly transparent, with delicate lemon meringue pie notes on the nose. Faint vanilla and butterscotch are also present. Nothing overwhelming, almost uninteresting. The palate is buttery with some lemony citrus that transitions into freshly cut oak spirals. Minimal to no burn, even at 46%. I can understand why JW uses this malt extensively. The finish is of medium duration, woody, and somewhat dry. Avoid adding water—in fact, don't even breathe heavily near the tasting glass. Many thanks to a friend for providing this sample, which was quite pricey at $90. It's certainly not worth the cost but serves as a pleasant and easy introduction to a relaxed tasting session. A 3-star, middle-of-the-road rating is fitting here. Cheers.