Mortlach 1971 41 Year Distillery Labels (Gordon & MacPhail)

Nose: Intense, pungent, and thick. Aromas of mineral oil, linseed oil, olive oil, dark stewed fruits, plum pudding, red berries, mango, rancio, brown sugar, and fudge are immediately apparent after pouring. Over time, the nose develops with numerous dark sherry fruit and oak notes emerging. After about thirty minutes of resting in the glass, its full sweet fruity character is revealed as it mellows, with a hint of wintergreen in the background. After considerable time, oak casks become clearly detectable and gradually acquire a creosote note and the scent of salmiak. This is when it reaches its peak. Palate: A substantial, spiced herbal sherry arrival. Sweet initially, but then developing a gripping dry tannic quality. Pepper, allspice, ginger powder, anise, menthol, and cloves emerge from the background and slowly move forward (all signs of very old tannin breakdown). Coffee, bitter Seville marmalade, wood varnish (!), sulphurous blackstrap molasses, sour cherries, and licorice follow as the dram starts to open up. The texture is rich at first but becomes a little thin and loses its "body" as the palate progresses into dryness – this is the only flaw I can find. Finish: Extended. Drying and waxy, nearly astringent before returning to sweetness. Black coffee, dark chocolate, cigar tobacco, and herbal notes linger. Like any very aged whisky, this dram requires significant time to open up. Allow it at least 30 minutes in the glass, but continue to smell it and take tiny sips occasionally, both to prepare your palate and to witness how profoundly it transforms with time. Adding water is optional, but if you do, just add a drop or two. Aged spirits are delicate and can easily be ruined. A single drop enhances texture and sweetness here, but too much will amplify the tannins and disrupt the balance. When in doubt, drink it neat. Often called "The Beast of Dufftown", this descriptive nickname might initially seem negative, but it's a term of endearment and respect among Mortlach aficionados. It's typically a robust whisky, rich in character and solid in structure with uncompromising qualities. The usual aging process is in ex-sherry casks, and it's highly valued by blenders for its ability to add gravitas to a blend. Mortlach was not available as an official bottling for a long time, but several independent bottlers, especially Gordon & Macphail, have had agreements to release licensed bottlings since the distillery was owned by Distillers Company Limited. In fact, you could say these licensed companies were the primary producers for over fifty years. This superb old-school whisky is an excellent representation of The Beast at its rumbling, challenging best. I would recommend a taste to any enthusiast, but it might be too intense for novices. If you happen to try a sample and find it too resinous, astringent, and woody, consider trying the younger Gordon & Macphail expressions, which have less intense cask influence. I am particularly fond of the 15-year-old bottling, which offers great value. Tasted from a 30ml sample provided by a friend, who was saving the bottle for a special occasion but rightly realized that every good day is special. Cheers, mate. "Excellent": 88/100 (4.5 stars)

I bought special bottles of whiskey for significant birthday milestones; my 40th, 50th, but held back after that, not wanting to push my luck. Yet, during my 1000th tasting, I decided why delay opening the 50th special bottle? Who truly knows what the future holds. After catching up with friends for drinks today and reminiscing about past good times, I returned home, opened a sample of Loch Gorm (2018 versus 2019), and thought, I'll do it... I said I'd open it, even if it was in a moment of intoxication, so I will. All these thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant as I paused before reaching for the bottle and taking it down from the shelf. The container was coated in construction dust from the extensive renovations we're undertaking. I lifted the lid and opened the bottle. I've always believed blind tastings are the great equalizer, revealing overpriced spirits for what they are. They might not be bad, but they aren't worth the extra cost compared to other drams. So often, I find myself scoring something I dislike, thinking, 'But it's a [brand name], everyone else loves it,' and feeling compelled to adjust my score, wondering if it's me, my current mood, or the wrong setting. However, for the most part, I try to remain honest with my feelings. With all that said, it's sometimes enjoyable to know what you're tasting, to recognize and accept it for what it is, in this instance, an aged spirit bottled before I was born. Knowing its background helps in appreciating its composition. Considering all this, I appreciated the dram for its significance, an old whiskey that rested in a cask for longer than I've been alive. Is it exceptional? Yes, it's very pleasant. Is it worth the price? Am I objectively evaluating the spirit for its intrinsic qualities or for what it symbolizes – a premature celebration of a fulfilling life and overcoming a recent difficult period. I don't regret the purchase price, but no one is missing out on an extraordinary experience. It's a beautifully made dram, but the overall experience is largely tied to the celebratory sentiment I've associated with it. Typically, I would assign it a very good score, but this time, I'm choosing not to quantify it in those terms, as its significance to me will be perceived differently by others. For those who have the opportunity to try this or a similar special dram, make it part of a meaningful occasion for yourselves, share it generously, and don't judge it solely on its own merits... Update: Alright, setting sentiment aside, I will provide a rating. I'm finding it difficult to stop drinking this. It's damn good, easily a 4.5.

Today marks my son's third birthday. With him now asleep, I'm glad to have a very special whisky for this moment, a kindly provided sample from a friend who noted its extensive journey. As some gentlemen who have reviewed this rarity have already eloquently described it, I won't attempt a detailed analysis. Instead, I'll simply savor it and highlight what distinguishes it from my personal whisky journey so far. This 41-year-old whisky, distilled half a century ago, is by far the oldest I've encountered (24 being the previous oldest). A friend mentioned its particular interest stems from how scotch was crafted differently back then, relying heavily on intuition due to the absence of advanced technology. I was advised to expect potential imperfections and to let it aerate for a period. It has been resting in a Norlan glass for over an hour, hopefully allowing it to develop fully. Cheers to my friend and the community. (Thirty minutes later) Indeed, this is quite different. After all these years, it seems devoid of maltiness or sweetness. Instead, it's intensely herbal, akin to a robust dry red wine with significant old wood influence. It also resembles very strong black tea that has steeped for far too long. What an experience. I quite like it but couldn't consume it regularly. It demands significant attention and focus. I will also refrain from assigning a rating. My assessments are based on comparisons with other whiskies, and I have nothing comparable for this. Furthermore, my ratings consider aspects I believe a whisky excels at or lacks. A whisky like this doesn't offer predictable elements for comparison, making it impossible to evaluate balance or potential optimizations. This whisky is akin to a Picasso or Van Gogh painting – neither can be directly compared to others in general. It possesses its own unique art and identity. Similarly, this whisky stands alone. However, I do appreciate it more than many whiskies I've tried to date, yet it still doesn't quite fit my usual preferences.

This dram was kindly provided by a friend. Receiving something from a previous era is a delightful indulgence, and something this aged is even more so. I've sampled a few single malts in the 40+ year range, and a commonality is that their quality far surpasses contemporary offerings, particularly in the casks. I was eager to try it as soon as it arrived this week. I don't usually partake in such high-caliber spirits without a celebration, but my daughter's success in a difficult middle school advanced math exam provides sufficient reason. The first aspect noticed is its color: a deep, rich mahogany, like the finest polished wood. The aroma is pure elegance, evoking the scent of an old library with woody notes that aren't overpowering, a testament to over 40 years of slow and steady sherry maturation. The taste is thick and viscous, chewy and oily, presenting flavors of Christmas cake and spices like nutmeg and cloves – absolutely incredible. While I've had other 40+ year old spirits, none were exclusively matured in sherry. Furthermore, few distillates can handle sherry cask aging for that duration, with exceptions like Macallan, Mortlach, Balvenie, and a select few others. This is another once-in-a-lifetime pour. I'm immensely grateful to the friend who shared it, acknowledging their difficult year and offering this as a toast to their resilience.