Mortlach Single Malt?

[Father Bill]

Has anyone tried "Mortlach Single Malt?" It's described as a "smooth new Speyside Scotch" and "Bold and Spicy.

I'm not sure who distills it or how long it's been around, but it's not exactly economical, so I'm not anxious to invest and be disappointed.

Experience, anyone?

[ThistleDown]

Are you referring to Mortlach 18, FB? If so, it will be pretty dear at around GBP175! Mortlach is the oldest distillery at Dufftown, although it was silent for a long time before being acquired by Johnny Walker. Most of its production for thirty or so years went to the blenders, but it's now owned by Diageo and has bottled a few 'specials' in recent times. Gordon & Macphail have a reasonably-priced example at something around GBP45, I think, but I doubt that's available in Canada.

[hoosier8]

Are you referring to Mortlach 18, FB? If so, it will be pretty dear at around GBP175! Mortlach is the oldest distillery at Dufftown, although it was silent for a long time before being acquired by Johnny Walker. Most of its production for thirty or so years went to the blenders, but it's now owned by Diageo and has bottled a few 'specials' in recent times. Gordon & Macphail have a reasonably-priced example at something around GBP45, I think, but I doubt that's available in Canada.

It's available in the States for around $79 USD.

[Father Bill]

This one is $99 CDN.

[ThistleDown]

I guess that will be the 15 yo. My taste-buds are not well enough educated to tell you much about it, but I recall it as a fairly typical Speyside. Perhaps the price is because it was a relatively small bottling?

[Father Bill]

I don't know about the size of the bottling, but it seems to be the new "fancy-dancy" bottles that have appeared in the last ten years. There was a time when you could almost say "The plainer the bottle the better the whisky" and while I never made or would make my selections on that basis, I mourn the loss of humility in style.

Knowing the region from which it comes is a good start in answering my question, so thanks for that.

[Liam]

I have a couple of bottles of Mortlach stowed away in my liquor cabinet. The are both Gordon and McPhail independent bottled. I like to keep a bottle available to toast the passing of my late Mother's siblings, who all came from a small town in Saskatchewan - Mortlach. Based upon previous samplings, it is a typical Speyside malt, easy on the peatiness, and leaning toward pears and honey. My Mother who came from a family of 8 children who made it to adulthood, died 5 years ago at age 88 and is survived by 4 sisters and 1 brother, ranging in age from 86 to 98.

[ThistleDown]

Gordon & McPhail usually bottle in the old 'plain and simple' style, FB. I've no doubt they are following the trend to fancy-dancies for a world market that is ever-more demanding of things 'different'. Therein the reason for Bruichladdich's various bottles and names, for example. The bottling has nothing to do with the age or the quality, of course, and my older relatives used to transfer the contents to decanters, much as they did port and sherry. Perhaps out of embarrassment more than tradition I still do that with a couple of blends.

[hoosier8]

Gordon & McPhail usually bottle in the old 'plain and simple' style, FB. I've no doubt they are following the trend to fancy-dancies for a world market that is ever-more demanding of things 'different'. Therein the reason for Bruichladdich's various bottles and names, for example. The bottling has nothing to do with the age or the quality, of course, and my older relatives used to transfer the contents to decanters, much as they did port and sherry. Perhaps out of embarrassment more than tradition I still do that with a couple of blends.

When the guys get together we always decanter the scotch and try and guess the locale, age, strength and we rate the scotch and only after we have rated it do we (all except the one that bought it) find out what it is.

Lately it has been harder because there is so much experimentation going on like Bruichladdich's scotches.

[Father Bill]

So fellows, is there a significant difference between the 18yo and the 15yo in your opinion? (Beyond Shekels and pence, that is.)