Mortlach 16 Year "Distiller's Dram"

Mortlach 12 was good. They secured my future business, and the next sensible step was to try their 16-year-old expression. I had no preconceptions when I sampled the 12, but having tasted it, I am now very eager to try this 16-year-old. Nose: Macadamia nuts and toasted almonds. Citrus notes of orange and tangerine. Vanilla, shortbread cookies, and toffee. Graham crackers and honey. Peanut butter. Stella D'oro cookies. Berries and stone fruits like raspberry, apple, blackberry, raisin, and plum. Pomegranate and cranberry. Cinnamon and black pepper. Abundant baking spices and oak. A rich aroma. Palate: Honey, vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, and toffee. Milk chocolate. Stella D'oro cookies. Almond butter and toasted almonds. Walnuts. Citrus notes of orange and tangerine. Fruits such as apple, pear, apricot, plum, and golden raisins. Honeydew melon. Berries like raspberry and blackberry. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Pomegranate juice. Fruits like apple, pear, apricot, and golden raisins. Plum, raspberry, and blackberry. Vanilla, caramel, toffee, Stella D'oro cookies. Almond butter and toasted almonds. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg. Oak. A moderate length. This is outstanding. Reportedly a sherry bomb. The packaging indicates it's exclusively aged in sherry casks. It drinks like a bourbon-sherry hybrid, though I'd estimate more bourbon influence than sherry. And I appreciate that. Sometimes a malt aged in sherry can be too smooth, with the casks completely overwhelming the spirit. Here, the Mortlach character takes precedence, benefiting the whisky. A 16-year-old single malt for $95? A steal. Beyond its inherent quality, the value for money is exceptional. 4.25/5. I'm looking forward to tasting the 20-year-old to complete the core range. As for this expression, it's a superb, distinctive, and well-priced Speysider.

The Mortlach 16-year-old is presented at 43.4% ABV, a blend of whiskies matured in refill bourbon, first-fill bourbon, and European oak sherry casks, typically costing between $100-140. This is a true Mortlach. While numerous unofficial Mortlach releases exist, often from Diageo, a genuine Mortlach is an exceptional spirit. Mortlach requires age and often sherry influence to truly embody its character. This bottling possesses both. The 16 years provides the ideal maturation period, and I haven't encountered any non-age-statement or significantly younger versions that truly honor the Mortlach name. The sherry influence is prominent here, and any potential sulfur notes from the casks are well-masked by Mortlach's inherent sulfurous profile. The aroma of dried shiitake mushroom complements a rich chicken broth beautifully. This whisky evokes memories of that broth, with notes of molten, orange-scented candle wax, ripe plums, and decaying cardboard left out in the rain. The palate retains its meaty character, featuring chocolate-covered clementines that lead into a spicy burst, followed by a prolonged finish of slightly burnt matchsticks, taro root, and prunes. As of 2024, I'm compiling a list of widely available, reasonably priced single malts of outstanding quality. Currently, my list includes only the Port Charlotte 10, the Bunnahabhain 12, and this Mortlach 16. Acquire this one.

I sampled this immediately after its younger counterpart, the Mortlach 12. Its color is slightly darker than the 12, appearing similar to Pantone 152. The nose shows clear sherry influence, initially presenting as fruitcake with notes of walnuts, maraschino cherries, and baking spice sweetness. The texture on the palate is full without being syrupy, revealing dates and prunes. The alcohol level is well-managed. The finish is pleasantly long with raisins and a subtle vanilla note. Overall, it's notably superior to the 12, offering more sweetness and smoothness, with greater depth yet maintaining a lightness. The 16 isn't overwhelmingly complex or unique, but I'd much rather have it than the 12 if I had to choose and was concerned about cost. The 16 is available for around $125, and enthusiasts would be wise to keep a bottle on hand. I give it 4.0 stars. 43.4% ABV. Note: All spirits were tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Nose: light, with vanilla, honey, and apples. Palate: honey, apples, and blueberry jam. Finish: short and light; overall pleasant. I had higher expectations; it's a good quality whisky lacking distinct character. Rating: 3.75 ______________________________________________ Nose: light, vanilla and honey, apples Palate: honey, apples, blueberry jam Finish: short and light, all in all pleasant. I would have expected more; good quality whisky lacking in personality. Score: 3.75

Appearance - amber +1, low viscosity. Nose - elegant aroma, bubblegum, toffee, vanilla, honey, cotton candy, rum cake, apricots, raisins. Palate - sweet light spicy arrival, oily, full, rich, sweet, creamy, bubblegum, tart, vanilla, toffee, raisins, plums, apricots, burnt sugar, cotton candy, rum cake, oak. Finish - medium to long finish, creamy-sweet-licorice-oaky aftertaste. Comment - heard good things about this dram and believe me it's not disappointing, those candy notes are something else!!

Nose: Intriguing, with leather, ripe yellow fruits, a slight acetone note, and chestnuts. A faint smoky undertone is present. Mouth: Fruity and herbal, with spicy notes like white pepper and a slight bourbon-like acetone. No smoke here. The finish is almost sweet. As it is consumed, complexity increases, revealing a rather unique creamy leather flavor. Finish: Medium.