Mortlach Archives - Whisky a Day

Whisky #500: SMWS 76.126 Racy Lady Wearing Leather

October 7, 2017 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS 76.126 Racy Lady Wearing Leather. 28 year old single cask single malt from Mortlach Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 57%.

A special whisky for a special milestone. 500 whiskies, damn! This dram was kindly provided courtesy of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s (SMWS) Australian Brand Ambassador, Matt Bailey, to celebrate reaching Whisky #500. Long time readers will know that I’ve been an active member and great fan of SMWS bottlings for a number of years now, so I thought why not stretch this Whisky #500 party out and have a whole week of SMWS whiskies!

So strap yourself in for the Racy Lady Wearing Leather, because she’s the first of 7 SMWS whiskies in 7 days…

Colour: Lustrous gold.

Nose: Earthy notes, dusty bookshelves and freshly baked chocolate brownies.

Palate: Imagine you’re eating a creme brûlée with a wooden spoon…sweet, creamy, a touch of burnt caramel, and some soft oaky notes. Savoury notes too when you have a few more sips; quince paste, caramelised balsamic onions cooked on the BBQ. Definitely a lot more subtle than you might expect from a 57% ABV whisky, both in terms of flavour and mouthfeel.

Finish: It’s quite a delicate and textual finish…the whisky almost caresses your tongue as it escapes down the back of your mouth. Almost like the racy lady is teasing you with a silk scarf that she draws gently across your face as she slinks off to a dark room, enticing you for more.

Comments: There’s a certain delicious irony in a seductive title like “Racy Lady Wearing Leather” coming from the Society’s “Old and Dignified” flavour profile! Though old and dignified she is. I enjoyed this one with Miles Davis’ classic “Kind of Blue” in the background, a fitting soundtrack for such a glorious whisky.

An outstanding whisky and certainly one worthy of the #500 milestone. Here’s to the next 500 whiskies, cheers!

Whisky #424: Mortlach Special Strength Single Malt

September 18, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Mortlach Special Strength Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 49%. Tasted at home, $120 (500mL bottle).

Colour: Light caramel.

Nose: Some sweet malty notes, a touch of lemon. But a little underwhelming to be honest.

Palate: Like how I imagine I approach the dance floor, it’s a smooth and cool entry. Others no doubt will have a different view! There’s a rich spiciness; toffee and pepper notes dance on the tongue. Muscatels and caramel fudge.

Finish: Quite a long warm tingle on the front of the palate with a long, drying mouthfeel to finish.

Comments: The nose didn’t suggest too much, but the palate is where this whisky is at. Quite pleasant, though as a travel retail exclusive (i.e. only available from duty free stores) I wouldn’t suggest planning an overseas trip for the sole purpose of grabbing a bottle.

Overall, it’s quite an easy drinking whisky with some nice flavours, the kind of dram you can pour and enjoy without thinking too deeply about it. And sometimes that’s just the kind of whisky you feel like, one that doesn’t require your full attention.

Whisky #302 – Gordon & Macphail Mortlach 21 Year Old Single Malt

December 2, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Gordon & Macphail Mortlach 21 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at The Pot Still (Glasgow), £7.15.

Colour: Bright yellow gold.

Nose: It doesn’t just smell sweet, it really does smell like honey.

Palate: Cool, oily entry; mouth-coating. Exceptionally smooth. Rich buttery honey flavours. A tingle builds at the front of the palate.

Finish: A semi-sweet yet drying finish. Medium length for flavour, long for the tingle.

Comments: Such a rich full flavoured dram, yet very easy to drink – the kind of whisky that you could safely have as your go-to drop no matter what the occasion.