Mortlach 11 Year (2010), Signatory Vintage for Spec’s
Whisky: Mortlach 11 Year (2010), Signatory Vintage for Spec’s
Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside
ABV: 58%
Cask: Hogshead, Sherry Cask Finish
Age: 11 Year (Distilled 8 Feb. 2010, Bottled 29 April 2021)
Nose: Chocolate and caramelized sugars with an herbal undercurrent. Lemon-lime and licorice soda came to mind before rich chocolate came alive with candy bars and barbecue-flavored chips. Barbecue notes drifted toward caramelized balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and tomato paste. Subtle herbal undercurrents hung behind the chocolate and citrus.
Palate: Medium-bodied with a full-throated sherry array of dried fruit, leather, and tobacco. An initial wave of dried fruit, chocolate, and brown sugar parted to reveal leather and herbal tobacco. Dried fruit, pomegranate, and slightly bitter coffee lingered at the end with dark chocolate and hints of cola. A few drops of water brought out more cola, caramel, and fruit throughout.
Finish: Lingering dry fruits and cocoa powder.
Score: 7
Mental Image: Late Night Convenience Store Snacks
Notes: Wow, it is not every day I find myself tucking into, and enjoying, a sherry bomb— this Mortlach was absolutely delightful. I do not have much deeper commentary to add than that; this was not the sort of subtle dram that requires a dissertation or much dissection. It was a full-throated sherry punch with a robust malt that offered depth with hints of citrus or cola. The addition of water opened up the profile and allowed those citrus and cola undercurrents to surface, though it did reduce some of the lovely barbecue impressions.
I particularly enjoyed the aroma of this dram. It was the second heavily sherried malt this year to remind me of barbecue potato chips, a note I had never encountered before. That note sits at the intersection of brown sugar, herbal spice, and the sweet tang of caramelized tomato paste. It was unusual, but combined with the soda and licorice elements, it reminded me of convenience store shopping on a budget— late-night high school food runs with just a wad of ones and small change to replace a meal. A fun, if incredibly unhealthy, practice.
Image Credit: Whiskybase
