Mortlach 1997 Port Finish Cask 16014

By Barry Bradford on December 11, 2017 • ( Leave a comment )

Mortlach 19 Years Old 1997 Port Cask Finish (56.4%, Malts of Scotland, Cask #16014, 257 Bottles, 2016)

Category: Speyside single malt Scotch whisky
Origin: Mortlach Distillery
Bottling: Malts of Scotland
ABV: 56.4%
Cost: sold out

What they say

Distilled at Mortlach distillery in 1997, this whisky has been transferred into a port cask for an undisclosed finishing period. Cask MoS 16014 was bottled in 2016 at Cask Strength of 56.4% ABV and produced 257 bottles at outturn.

What I say

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
bright copper… stills and port-finished Mortlach

These are a few of my favourite things!

In all seriousness when an accomplice announced they had snagged a bottle of cask strength 19 year old Mortlach that had been finished in port casks by the independent German bottler Malts of Scotland, the concept of Portlach seemed too delicious to pass on & so here we are.

My tasting notes:

Appearance: Ruby amber (12/20), numerous fine tears and fine legs
Nose: Plum jam, strawberry, raspberry, a little balsamic vinegar, spicy and spirit, fizzy sherbet, a hint of sulphur, fruity, a touch of tannic suede leather, orange peels, zest & oil, ginger, sweeties shop favourites like sherbet fountains and dib-dab (dip-dab), or cherry & cola sherbet dip – the one with the swizzle stick to eat it with!
Taste: Malty cereal barley coated in strawberry jam, or spread thick over granary toast (jam that is), malt loaf/Soreen, dried fruits; cherry, raisin, white-chocolate dipped strawberries, fruit scones/cream tea (i.e. with clotted cream and strawberry jam), full-bodied and thick on the palate, mixed berry compote or medley, also over-stewed and tannic fruit tea
Finish: Long, sweet, jammy berry fruits and tannin, some cinnamon spice and nutmeg from oak wood

Overall

Delicious, rich & juicy jammy fruits, lovely malty structure with touches of tannic leather and that still sulphur meatiness characteristic of Mortlach.