MORTLACH 1998 22 YEAR OLD (CONNOISSEUR'S CHOICE)

Nose: Sweet honey, butter, exotic fruit, coconut, and a hint of mint or licorice. A touch of golden syrup. Palate: Flavors of honey, caramel candy, tropical fruit, spicy black pepper, banana, and citrus orange. Finish: Lingering and extended. It leaves the mouth dry, with notes of nuts, leather, lemon, and orange. A rich, buttery texture is present. The lingering taste is purely spice. This bottling is powerful and concentrated, showing the strength of the distillery's character! So many elements are present in this pour - vanilla from the previous bourbon cask, honey and caramel, followed by a strong wave of sweet and spicy notes, with the oils contributing to a smooth, rich texture. Excellent! It ranked third among the six pours, earning 18% of the vote for the evening's favorite. A significant majority, 82%, found the whisky enjoyable.