A delicious fruity old bourbon matured Bowmore, smoke is almost non-existant here which is a little reminiscent of old-style peat-smoked (non Islay) whisky. My favourite of the tasting. 94/100
Bowmore 31 Years Old Timeless Series
Bowmore 27 Years Old Timeless Series
A superb old Bowmore expression, still softly smoky but full of tannic sherry wood influences, dried fruits and nuts and some minerality too. 93/100
Mortlach 7 Years Old Tartan
Another raw and spirit-led Mortlach expression and again in the absence of serious cask-maturation I’m left underwhelmed by this one. 76/100
Mortlach 11 Years Old 2004 Old Malt Cask 12150
A rather sweet and zesty Mortlach with plenty of rich fruits and spice. No idea of the original wine in the cask maturation but the end result is really very drinkable. 84/100
Scotch Mist
The second of our organoleptics series following on from The Colour of Whisky is a timely focus on Chill Filtration in whisky.
Mortlach 17 Years Old 1997 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection 12849
Rather underwhelming this one, I suspected this was perhaps a 3rd or 4th refill cask as only exhausted oak wood notes come out. 83/100
Mortlach 17 Years Old 1997 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection 7176
Another lovely fruity and spirit-forward Mortlach, some obvious vanilla/bourbon influence here but works well together, great mouthfeel on this one and the odd metallic note here and there. 85/100
Mortlach 1995 Stem Ginger Preserve
Lovely, juicy and bright fruit notes, plenty of ginger but also great chamois leathery notes also, a little buttery and oily in places too. 87/100
Mortlach 19 Years Old 1996 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection 185 & 187
This Mortlach reveals much more naked spirit even after 19 years, indicative of very underactive refill casks, still great quality spirit. 84/100
Mortlach 19 Years Old 1996 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection 182 & 183
Refill matured but I suspected sherry here again? Some spice and sugar but not too much/too intense fruit. I suspected peppery (Spanish) oak, and leathery/meaty spirit from Mortlach may have swayed me. 85/100
