PBMichiganWolverine
Mortlach 1971 41 Year Distillery Labels (Gordon & MacPhail)
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed
June 28, 2020 (edited July 30, 2020)
This was a pour provided graciously by @Soba45 ...sent all the way across 4000 miles of the Pacific, and then 3000 miles over US.
Having something from a bygone era is a luxurious treat. And having something this old, is even more of a treat. I’ve had maybe 3-4 single malts in the 40+ yr category, and one thing is fairly consistent across those: the quality is far beyond what we’re seeing today, especially in the casks.
I just got it this week, and I was looking forward to trying it the minute it showed up. I’m generally not in the habit of having this caliber of drams without something to celebrate. But...my daughter just passed an exam to make it into entering middle school’s advanced math—-a damn difficult exam ( needed straight A’s in class, 95% in a statewide core test, and then a 75%+ in an advanced math test). So—-to me—-that’s ;reason enough.
First thing you notice in this is the color. Deep, deep mahogany. Like the best polished wood you’ll ever see. The nose is then pure elegance. Think sitting in an old library. It’s aromas of wood without being overpowering. Those 40+ yrs in sherry did it’s job slowly and steadily. The taste...thick and viscous. Chewy, oily. Now comes the Christmas cake, spices like nutmeg and cloves. Absolutely amazing. I’ve had a few other 40+ yr olds, but never matured solely in sherry. Then again, not many distillates can hold sherry cask this long besides the likes of Macallan, Mortlach, Balvenie, and maybe a few more. This is another once-in-a-lifetime pour.
I don’t know what to say—-thanks immensely to @Soba45 for sharing. I know you had a tough year, and this was a “cheers” to see you come out stronger.
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@PBMichiganWolverine Great review! After surviving COVID-19, I don't need special occasions for these special bottles anymore - being alive is enough.
@PBMichiganWolverine I will use that when I pour. Was planning on the 4th, but I did not have the time available I thought I would. Thanks for the heads up on the glass type.
@Scott_E that’ll work too—-I just noticed that some of these older ones from a bygone era work better in glasses that enhance aromas more than your average glencairn
@PBMichiganWolverine I don’t have that kind of glass but I do have a Whisky Copita.
@Jan-Case. I've destroyed one of my set of two. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who breaks expensive glassware!
Congrats to your daughter and to you as well! Good news indeed.
@Jan-Case likewise—-for the regular workhorse, it’s a standard glencairn. For these special ones, I’ll take out the Blender’s or Norlan
@PBMichiganWolverine I already trashed two. They are so fragile. To keep the last two I have alive I stick with Glencairn glasses at the moment unless there is something special like this Mortlach from Soba. For those kind of special occasions I will bring out the Norlans.
@Jan-Case those Norlan glasses are really good...damn pricey though, at close to USD$30/each I think
@PBMichiganWolverineo have a set of Norlan glasses here - that should gods as well.
@Jan-Case it’s like a glencairn —it’s this one: https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/34880/1920s-professional-blenders-whisky-glass
@PBMichiganWolverine I have three different kinds of Glencairn glasses if that is what you mean? I literally got the sample from @Soba45 today. Looking forward to it.
@Scott_E @Soba45 if you guys have a Blenders Glass ( large bulb with longer neck small opening ), use it for this. I found that whiskey glass works better for these older rarer whiskeys
@PBMichiganWolverine @Soba45 Congratulations! Nice hearing some good news for a change. Looking to sampling this tomorrow, 7/4.
@Soba45 thank you immensely for this. Was such a treat.
Congrats on your daughter's achievement, nice review and awesome you got the dram safely!