Mortlach 16 Year "Distiller's Dram"

T: plastic? Bittery and a bit floral. N: strong lemon flavor and finish. Something sweet, its different and i like it.

Tasting this immediately following its little brother, the Mortlach 12. Looks a shade darker than the 12, but seems to align with the Pantone 152 in color. Clear sherry influence on the nose, but the first impression is fruit cake, with the entirety of walnuts, maraschino cherries, and baking-spice sweetness. The mouthfeel is expansive without being glycerin-like, and shows dates and prunes. Ethanol is in check (not that it's particularly high). Pleasantly long finish with raisins, and lingering vanilla. The overall impression is notably better than the 12; both sweeter and smoother, with more depth yet still a lightness of foot. The 16 is not overtly complex, and lacks some distinctive characteristics, but I'd much prefer this one over the 12 in my inventory, if I had to choose and budget were an issue. The 16 can be had for about $125, and a connoisseur would do well to keep a bottle on hand. 4.0 on the Distiller scale. 43.4% ABV. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.