Tastes

Another excellent review from Stephanie Moreno. Very unique flavor. Lots of baking spice, honey, orchard fruit and cereal on the nose. Slight alcohol nip. Softer on the palate with some charred wood mingling with the fruit, especially orange peel. Velvety mouth-feel and pleasantly warm alcohol burn. It loves a drop or two of water. Very nice overall.

Fruit, chocolate, tea and spice on the nose. Fruit takes over on the palate with some wood and spicy burn in the middle. More wood comes on the medium long and warm finish. A bit of a soapy aftertaste, which is odd. Nice oily mouth feel throughout. Not outstanding, but not bad.

Even with chill filtering and (likely) added color, Diageo couldn't screw this one up. At least they gave us 43.4% abv. I have wanted to try Mortlach for a long time, but would not pay the premium for the super-duper, rare old, extra special previous bottlings. Leathery and earthy on the nose. Earthy fruit comes to the fore on the palate with a spicy envelope tying everything together. More exploration needed and will be savored. Deserving of all 88 points.

Far more interesting than the 79 points would imply. Fruity, grassy, spice and some sour barley notes on the nose. Oily on the palate with spice up front followed by earthy and nutty flavors mixed with fruit. Very intriguing and complex for what I assume is a young-ish (NAS) malt. Will be glad to explore further and purchase other expressions in the future. Correct rating: 85.

Initial tasting as a side-by-side with the 10 yo. Very disappointed. A shadow of the 10 yo. Flat, thin and uninspiring. Pay the extra $10-15 for the 10 yo. May work better for those just checking out peated whisky. I will revisit outside of the side-by-side.

Astringent oak and vanilla on the nose. Oak, vanilla, caramel on the palate. Long, oak-centric finish. Pleasant enough neat, but not worth the money when you can buy Elijah Craig for less. Will try in some cocktails. Will not purchase again.

If you like Bunnahabhain 12, it won't matter at all because this bares little resemblance. Unpleasantly sour on the nose and more of the same on the palate. Some fruit to explore on the medium long finish, but overall I think this is too young. No contest on a side-by-side with the 12. Both are earthy and savory, but the connection stops there. I will not buy again.

Taster dram from a friend who picked up the bottle in Scotland. Wonderful hot nose of honey, plums and other over-ripe fruit. Big arrival on the palate with the fruit leading the way as well as a strong pine tar note (think retsina). Pleasantly viscous and warming. Long, slow finish. Great!

Danksy's review is pretty much spot on except I found that a drop or two of water opens up and extends the flavor on the palate. Solid value at $40, non chill filtered and 46% ABV.