🛒 Potstill Vienna

Note by Serge Valentin from whiskyfun.com: Mortlach 'Rare Old' (43.4%, OB, 50cl, 2014) An NAS vatting of various kinds of casks. Funnily enough, the Rare Old is the least rare and the least old of the bunch. Colour: full gold. Nose: it is a very malty one at first nosing, with floral tones as well, but it’s not void of any mineral/oily notes. There’s this earthiness that’s rather typical, also notes of, say a box of old coins that you brought back from many countries, then a little butter and sunflower oil, perhaps. And vanilla. It’s not a very ‘greasy’ one but it’s no light malt either. A bit of fresh oak. Mouth: starts a little brutal and rough, which comes unexpected. Quite some oak spices, especially cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg, before it becomes more chocolaty and slightly leathery. Some caramel as well, vanilla, raisins and honey, with always a spicy side, joined by wee touches of horseradish at some point. Finish: of medium length, always with these oak spices as well as caramel, honey and malt. Comments: I had thought this baby would be smoother and more polished, it’s actually a rather robust and spicy dram. SGP:451 - 82 points.

N- Malty sweet, stiff oily wood fragrant. Nutty, grapefruits with sour citrus. P- Nutty, oily, salted almond and somehow perfume-y. Quite heavy on body with excessive of restrain salt and sweet interplay, feel sort of cloying overtimes. F- Medium length, dried fruits with thin layer of new leather, new wood arise with thin substance. — at The Whisky Bar, Kuala Lumpur.

Brute Early May I was invited to the Mortlach Benelux Release Dinner in Brussels where I, along with about 40 other invitees, were introduced to the new range under the skillful guidance of the lovely Georgie Bell. Six weeks later a box was delivered containing samples of the tried expressions so I could re-taste them in the serenity of my whisky basement. Time to try the Rare Old, 18 Year Old and 25 Year Old again, starting with the Rare Old. If I understood Georgie correctly, three types of spirit were used (delicate, medium and meaty) as well as different types of wood: first fill American and European oak as well as refill and rejuvenated casks. The first time I put my nose in the glass I get mostly sweet malt with loads of floral elements. Think grain cookies, sultanas and a hint of sniffing tobacco. Some earthy notes which are quite common in Mortlach. Light butter. Some bergamot oil and vanilla. Lastly some oak. Pleasant enough nose. The kick to the teeth upon arrival is quite suprising. Plenty of spices: pepper, cinnamon and some ginger. The sweetness comes from honey and sultanas, but also some orange peel. Touch of leather. Turns a bit dry. The vanilla evolves towards caramel. After the pleasant nose, I had expected a bit more to be honest. The finish is medium long on spices from the wood with some sweet caramel at the death. A bit of a brute, this Rare Old. You have to like this type of malt, I guess. I do, which makes it worth my while. But once you realize a 50cl bottle will set you back about 70 EUR, you do raise your eyebrows for a moment.

This was a gift off my wife, yes it's in a fancy bottle and yes it's in a rip off 50cl and yes it's over priced, would I buy it? Probably not, doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it.

Now, over half a decade after it's ill-starred release featuring a 50cl bottle shaped to look like a 70cl, no age statement, and a price more aligned with 2020 than 2014, I think I can take a more neutral perspective toward the liquid itself. This is a curious whisky, in that the grassy and unimpressive nose and the swift finish aren't at all matched by the pleasant if a bit underwhelming palate. I tasted this with a full compliment of Mortlachs ( OBs Rare Old, 12, 14, 15 GoT, 16, 18, 20, and the 2019 G&M 25), and if there is something to be said for the whole OB line, the 43,4% bottling strength is too low because it kills the finishes.

No. I regret to try.