Mortlach is a well-suited malt for sherry maturation… but what if it spent its whole time in a bourbon cask? With this teenage Mortlach from Adelphi, I have the chance to find out.

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Whisky: Mortlach 17 Year (2003), Adelphi Cask 800264

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 58.1%

Cask: First Fill Bourbon Hogshead

Age: 17 Years (Distilled 2003, Bottled 2020)

Notes: Citrusy and grassy with a touch of marshmallow, the aroma had me running through fields of green grass, dandelions, and white flowers. It was fresh, clean, and very Spring-like with burdock candies, modeling clay, and vanilla cream marshmallows. More cooked sugars, butterscotch, and milk chocolate lingered in the background; water brought them more forward. Medium-bodied and syrupy with a striking mix of cooked sugars and floral meadows— it was spring in the candy store with burdock, vanilla marshmallows, and butterscotch. Honeysuckle and caramel grew out of the green grass and scattered vanilla beans with a hint of strawberry. The buttery malt turned toward honey and pepper at the end with a dusting of crushed hazelnut. The finish was medium-length with pepper, honey, and white flowers.

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Score: 6 (78)

Mental Image: Quiet Meadow Candy Store

Conclusion: The floral and grassy elements of the spirit stood out wonderfully on this bourbon maturation. It was absent the dried fruits and meatier notions that more commonly come through with a sherry maturation, with a great deal more spring and marshmallow cream vibes in their place. While I have been on more of a floral whisky kick lately and did enjoy this, I thought the flavors here were not always complementary.