The Mortlach 50 Year Old, distilled in 1971 and matured in a single refill American Oak hogshead cask, encapsulates the distillery’s most revered secrets. For over five decades, this exquisite spirit lay undisturbed in Mortlach's original warehouse, undergoing a slow and transformative journey of refinement. This aging process unveiled a complex profile of sweetness and opulent richness, with vibrant, surprisingly fruity notes shrouded in a veil of spice. This vintage Scotch captures the essence of Mortlach's audacious nature, reflecting the last spirit to emerge from its original direct-fire stills. When the stills sing, the distilling rings.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Appearance
Clear, golden amber. Very good beading and slow legs.
Nose
Nose
A mellow nose, dense and enigmatic, as if ready at last to reveal many mysteries, but in its own time. A top note of summer-ripe hedgerow fruit leads smoothly down into a deeper complex of dry, lightly spicy aromas on a woody base. Later, a faint trace of Brazil nut. Adding a splash of water elevates the spicier, woody notes and brings up a faint hint of hard fruit sweets.
Body
Body
Medium to full.
Palate
Palate
At natural strength, really smooth in texture, lightly sweet, rich and surprisingly fruity to taste. The dark berry fruit notes contrast with a gently growing spicy warmth that acts as a protective cocoon, preserving and extending the flavours. Remarkably mellow for a whisky of this age, even at natural strength, it is never dominated by the wood. A drop of water lightens the whisky, now even softer and still deliciously fruity, before being balanced by those spicier notes.
Finish
Finish
Long, rounded and lightly drying, with that gentle nutty-spicy warmth still embracing the fruit in a sublime aftertaste. Similar with water, which extends the warmth into a reassuring afterglow.
Region
Region
Speyside
You may also like...
Mortlach
Midnight Malt: 30-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Mortlach
Special Release 2023, Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Mortlach
20 Year Old, Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Mortlach
Special Release 2022, Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Mortlach
Midnight Malt: 30-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Mortlach
Special Release 2023, Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Mortlach
20 Year Old, Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Mortlach
Special Release 2022, Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Keep the conversation going.
Contact us for further information, or subscribe to our newsletter.
LEARN MORE