Mortlach 21 Year Old, Diageo Special Release 2020

This Mortlach was matured for rich distillery character in small batches then carefully finished in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso-seasoned casks to build yet more levels of aroma and taste. At once smooth, sweet and savoury, the many-layered outcome mirrors the complexity of the mysterious Mortlach 2.81 distillation itself.

Called the “The Beast of Dufftown” for its robust, meaty nature, little known Mortlach may be the best-kept secret in Scotch. Bold flavours are the mark of this special breed, distinguishing it as the monarch of its glen as surely as the bellow of a mature red deer stag.

The aromas run deep, swirling with dark dried fruits and savoury, meaty notes. The texture is super-smooth, the intense taste is sweet with rich fruit and cured ham, building to a lingering spicy-dryness. Long and impressive, the finish truly emphasizes this harmony of sweetness and spice, leaving the palate dry in a glorious afterglow.

A rare release with very limited availability of 7,692 bottles worldwide.

Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Deep gold with amber lights. Good beading.

Body: Medium to full.

Nose: A mellow, rounded, nose with some prickle. The first impression is of rich, dried fruits, and beneath this fresh-baked buttered scones, perhaps spread with lime marmalade. Soon this becomes lightly savoury and meaty but retains a slight citric note. A drop of water modifies the latter and reduces the aroma.

Palate: At natural strength, mild for its strength and super-smooth in texture, while the wonderfully rich mouth-filling taste is immediately sweet overall with dried fruits, then intense and savoury with a surprising kick of chili pepper as it goes down. Magnificently feral and delicious. Drying overall, with rich tannins. Similar with a dash of water, which raises a little more sweet, spiced fruit.

Finish: Seemingly endless and deeply impressive, with the fruit and savoury notes in perfect agreement and a warming glow spreading across the palate. Finally leaving the palate dry, yet still wreathed in a glorious rich afterglow.