Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 56.7%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Sherry
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Douglas Laing & Co.
Average price: € 300.00
Official website: www.douglaslaing.com
It can happen that one wakes up in the morning and has a “craving for something good”. Well, today I woke up with a craving for a sherry whisky (to each their own desires…). I rummaged through the samples I had available, and this independent Mortlach seemed perfect on paper. I want to emphasize that I didn’t have it for breakfast!
This is a proposal from Douglas Laing that belongs to the Director’s Cut series. A single cask, no. 10143, filled in September 1992 and bottled in December 2013 in 255 bottles at the remarkable cask strength of 56.7%abv.
The combination of Mortlach and ex-sherry casks is well-established and has often resulted in excellent whisky. Will this also be the case here?
Tasting Notes
The color is copper.
The entrance is characterized by dark berry fruits (blackberries and blueberries), accompanied by hints of raisins, caramel, orange peel, and milk chocolate. Two very distinct memories: cream puffs with zabaglione and crème brûlée. Enveloping everything is a delightful note of dark wood that evokes an old library or a study with extensive mahogany shelves. As the minutes pass, the caramel and orange peel increase in intensity.
The palate is particularly consistent with the nose, especially regarding the presence of dark wood, along with the significant addition of cherry in spirit. A spicy dimension that is not perceived on the nose (pepper) and a slight underlying spiciness are also noticeable. It’s worth noting, in the retro-nasal perception, an earthy note that is perhaps what remains, aside from a rather heavily charred cask, of the Mortlach distillate.
The finish is long, warm, and enveloping, with wood, orange peel, and caramel once again outlining a seductive aromatic profile in a whisky free of astringency.
Review: The first thought goes to the best versions of Aberlour A’bunadh: well-maintained high proof, the typical markers of sherry maturation clearly defined, and a substantial sweetness underneath (for those who enjoy that style). The distinct scent of dark wood lends an aristocratically austere tone to the tasting experience, and the earthy note takes you straight to the original distillate. Sumptuous.
Vote: 90/100