Good review. I agree with everything you said. The 12 year old never really pulled me in, and while the 16 is better, it’s not great for my pallet. I don’t know all the distilleries based around Dufftown, but due to the high(ish) price, perhaps Mortlach is the ‘’least’’ of Dufftown, not the ‘beast’’.
Thanks! I really like that play on words, "The Least of Dufftown." OB's could be priced much more competitively, Mortlach IB's can be magnificent, so that's generally where my Mortlach money will go. Cheers.
I was on the fence on this one to buy or not. Had my eye on it for years now. I guess I’ll skip on it for now. If you could only choose two of the following which would you pick: Tamdhu 18, Bunnahabhain 18, Deanston 18, Tobermory 21, Ledaig 18. If All were equal price and you liked peated and sherry both ,which two would you get?
Sorry for the delay! It's a fine enough whisky, but for the price I'm not replacing my Mortlach 16. Now on the subject of which 2 I would choose of those bottles, it's a tough one. Ledaig 18 is probably the one I'd grab for sure. If you want coastal Sherry I'd go with Bunnahabhain 18. If you want Speyside Sherry similar to Macallan, but better, I'd go with Tamdhu 18. Honestly though I'm a sucker for exploration and Tobermory. I've never had the 21 and I'd be damn curious about that one. However, for those I've had It'll be Ledaig 18 and Tamdhu 18. Hope this helps! Cheers buddy 🥃
@@whiskyonthewestcoast Thanks for the response . I’ve heard the Tamdhu 18 is better than the 15 but not for the price difference. The issue with the Bunna 18 aside from rising prices is the batch variations reported. I picked up a Ledaig 18. Only question now is do I go for the 21 Tobermory. Oh if only I had money to burn I’d get them all.
I believe that would be a G&M Distillery label release most likely. One of the better ways to experience more naturally presented Mortlach. One thing I like to do with bottles I'm not used to or necessarily enjoying right away is to set them aside for a few months or longer. Come back to them with fresh eyes later. Sometimes it doesn't work though 😅
I always stayed away from the official bottlings, 43% or the price for the special releases is just not great. But IB of Mortlach are often very good, one of my fav distilleries, love the character
Great video. I've only had the 12yr expression. It's good, quite meaty. Is this 16yr 2x a much in value? Cuz in here, the 16 is 2x the price of the 12 😪
Short answer NO, not worth twice as much. Regular price in my area would be $164 CAD for it(which is twice the 12 Year at $82CAD). I got my Mortlach 16 on sale last year for $90CAD. If my bottle was empty, I would rebuy at that price. But not at the price they pay in the U.K., Master of Malt it runs 105 Pounds(170CAD). Never at that price, or even the regular $150-$160 CAD.
I also have batch variations, in price, from 150-160 to 180 in the most crowded province ! kidd' (( good vid )) the Special Release of MORTIFIED is now 425$CA (listed, no stock)... My best MORTY came from Signatory Vintage 1988 (20yo at 59.6%) for 125 $ CA ... in 2009 !
"Mortlach distillery has 6 stills, 3 wash stills and 3 spirit stills and what sets them apart is that all of the stills are different in shape and size and they all work pretty much independently from one another. They don’t work in perfect pairs but create three different spirit characters from the three spirit stills which are then blended to create the house style. “It’s like having three distilleries at the one still house”, Georgie Bell says. The first of these is the pairing of wash still #3 and spirit still #3 to create a malty distillate. Wash stills 1 and 2 work as a pair, which is unusual. All the runs are split into halves, the heads and the tails. The first half from wash stills 1 and 2 are the low wines and the lighter half. These are run through spirit still #2 which creates a lighter floral distillate. The heavier half of wash stills #1 and #2 is run that through spirit still #2 once but no cuts are taken. Everything that has been through the stills is run through a second time but with the tails from wash stills #1 and #2. The richer half and the heavier half get even richer and more viscous. “If spirit still #1 is small and its filled high, then it’s a bit of a copper contact. So taking it around twice is not really cleaning it to that same effect, so no cuts are taken. Everything that has gone around that second time is run through a third time with the set of heads from wash stills #1 and #2 because by this point, it has become way too thick and way too viscous. A spirit cut is taken from that.” A spirit cut is then taken from spirit still #1 from every third run. Mortlach use worm tub condensers and the water is cold at 10 degrees, which means as soon as that vapour hits the copper, it turns back into liquid. So when the spirit is in liquid form, the copper cannot do its work, so every part of the production process is calibrated to create this character, and this has been calculated to be 2.81. “I know it is nearer to three than to two,” Georgie Bell adds. “Usually when you say triple distilled, you think of a lighter spirit. The 2.81 actually stands for the precision in the way that it has been distilled.”
"In October 2015, Georgie Bell, then global brand ambassador for Mortlach single malt Scotch whiskies visited Sydney to launch Mortlach Rare Old. At the conclusion of the formalities, we asked Georgie to explain Mortlach’s 2.81 distillation process."
Mortlach has to be one of the most fascinating in Speyside for their actual distillation process. So detailed, as it should be! Thanks for posting this breakdown of the 2.81! Cheers 🥃
Very understandable judgement. I think it's a bottle I'd keep around for visitors who are whisky curious and dont yet know what they like. Any more upcoming distillery visit's in the near future for you?
@@whiskyonthewestcoast I haven’t rearranged Benromach yet as they are not open at weekends, but I’m off to Campbeltown and Islay the week commencing the 13th of March 🥃
That sounds like an excellent pilgrimage to Kintyre/Islay. I may have to get some advice from you as I'm planning my own and first Islay/Campbeltown trip for June.
I’m really interested in you reviewing a comparative flight of IBs! Pls don’t waste the time with Diageo stuff. Maybe worthwhile would be a show on alternatives to their various “profiles” but there’s been enough well-deserved hate vids elsewhere in the WhiskyVerse already that it’s either more preaching to the choir or unsavory ass kissing for more freebie “shelf terds”.
Good review. I agree with everything you said. The 12 year old never really pulled me in, and while the 16 is better, it’s not great for my pallet. I don’t know all the distilleries based around Dufftown, but due to the high(ish) price, perhaps Mortlach is the ‘’least’’ of Dufftown, not the ‘beast’’.
Thanks! I really like that play on words, "The Least of Dufftown." OB's could be priced much more competitively, Mortlach IB's can be magnificent, so that's generally where my Mortlach money will go. Cheers.
I was on the fence on this one to buy or not. Had my eye on it for years now. I guess I’ll skip on it for now.
If you could only choose two of the following which would you pick:
Tamdhu 18, Bunnahabhain 18, Deanston 18, Tobermory 21, Ledaig 18.
If All were equal price and you liked peated and sherry both ,which two would you get?
Sorry for the delay! It's a fine enough whisky, but for the price I'm not replacing my Mortlach 16. Now on the subject of which 2 I would choose of those bottles, it's a tough one. Ledaig 18 is probably the one I'd grab for sure. If you want coastal Sherry I'd go with Bunnahabhain 18. If you want Speyside Sherry similar to Macallan, but better, I'd go with Tamdhu 18. Honestly though I'm a sucker for exploration and Tobermory. I've never had the 21 and I'd be damn curious about that one. However, for those I've had It'll be Ledaig 18 and Tamdhu 18. Hope this helps! Cheers buddy 🥃
@@whiskyonthewestcoast Thanks for the response . I’ve heard the Tamdhu 18 is better than the 15 but not for the price difference. The issue with the Bunna 18 aside from rising prices is the batch variations reported. I picked up a Ledaig 18. Only question now is do I go for the 21 Tobermory. Oh if only I had money to burn I’d get them all.
Drinking g&macphail 15 and it is very savoury. It takes some time to get used to
I believe that would be a G&M Distillery label release most likely. One of the better ways to experience more naturally presented Mortlach. One thing I like to do with bottles I'm not used to or necessarily enjoying right away is to set them aside for a few months or longer. Come back to them with fresh eyes later. Sometimes it doesn't work though 😅
I always stayed away from the official bottlings, 43% or the price for the special releases is just not great. But IB of Mortlach are often very good, one of my fav distilleries, love the character
It's a really characterful and unique distillate. IB's are definitely where it's at.
Great video. I've only had the 12yr expression. It's good, quite meaty.
Is this 16yr 2x a much in value? Cuz in here, the 16 is 2x the price of the 12 😪
Short answer NO, not worth twice as much. Regular price in my area would be $164 CAD for it(which is twice the 12 Year at $82CAD). I got my Mortlach 16 on sale last year for $90CAD. If my bottle was empty, I would rebuy at that price. But not at the price they pay in the U.K., Master of Malt it runs 105 Pounds(170CAD). Never at that price, or even the regular $150-$160 CAD.
@@whiskyonthewestcoast yeah, I just can't justify a $120 price tag for a 43%... although worm tubs whiskies can take advantage from lower abvs
Diageo has the power to fix that, but will they? I'm not holding my breath.
Had a Mortlach 14 side by side with a Glenmorangie 12 Lasanta and it was quite pleasant!
Did the Mortlach 14 come out as the winner against the Lasanta? I hear that 14 is quite similar to the 16.
@@whiskyonthewestcoast yes it did but slightly better.
I also have batch variations, in price, from 150-160 to 180 in the most crowded province ! kidd' (( good vid )) the Special Release of MORTIFIED is now 425$CA (listed, no stock)... My best MORTY came from Signatory Vintage 1988 (20yo at 59.6%) for 125 $ CA ... in 2009 !
Mortified! 😄 If only we could still get 20 year old Mortlach for that price.
"Mortlach distillery has 6 stills, 3 wash stills and 3 spirit stills and what sets them apart is that all of the stills are different in shape and size and they all work pretty much independently from one another. They don’t work in perfect pairs but create three different spirit characters from the three spirit stills which are then blended to create the house style.
“It’s like having three distilleries at the one still house”, Georgie Bell says.
The first of these is the pairing of wash still #3 and spirit still #3 to create a malty distillate. Wash stills 1 and 2 work as a pair, which is unusual. All the runs are split into halves, the heads and the tails. The first half from wash stills 1 and 2 are the low wines and the lighter half. These are run through spirit still #2 which creates a lighter floral distillate.
The heavier half of wash stills #1 and #2 is run that through spirit still #2 once but no cuts are taken. Everything that has been through the stills is run through a second time but with the tails from wash stills #1 and #2. The richer half and the heavier half get even richer and more viscous.
“If spirit still #1 is small and its filled high, then it’s a bit of a copper contact. So taking it around twice is not really cleaning it to that same effect, so no cuts are taken. Everything that has gone around that second time is run through a third time with the set of heads from wash stills #1 and #2 because by this point, it has become way too thick and way too viscous. A spirit cut is taken from that.”
A spirit cut is then taken from spirit still #1 from every third run. Mortlach use worm tub condensers and the water is cold at 10 degrees, which means as soon as that vapour hits the copper, it turns back into liquid. So when the spirit is in liquid form, the copper cannot do its work, so every part of the production process is calibrated to create this character, and this has been calculated to be 2.81.
“I know it is nearer to three than to two,” Georgie Bell adds. “Usually when you say triple distilled, you think of a lighter spirit. The 2.81 actually stands for the precision in the way that it has been distilled.”
"In October 2015, Georgie Bell, then global brand ambassador for Mortlach single malt Scotch whiskies visited Sydney to launch Mortlach Rare Old. At the conclusion of the formalities, we asked Georgie to explain Mortlach’s 2.81 distillation process."
Mortlach has to be one of the most fascinating in Speyside for their actual distillation process. So detailed, as it should be! Thanks for posting this breakdown of the 2.81! Cheers 🥃
Diageo should seriously consider letting visitors taste each component whisky as part of the distillery tour!
@@shuboy05 That would be an incredible way to experience Mortlach. Each component and then end with the final product. Great idea!
I have this bottle and it’s nice but I won’t be replacing it. Cap score 8
Very understandable judgement. I think it's a bottle I'd keep around for visitors who are whisky curious and dont yet know what they like.
Any more upcoming distillery visit's in the near future for you?
@@whiskyonthewestcoast
I haven’t rearranged Benromach yet as they are not open at weekends, but I’m off to Campbeltown and Islay the week commencing the 13th of March 🥃
That sounds like an excellent pilgrimage to Kintyre/Islay. I may have to get some advice from you as I'm planning my own and first Islay/Campbeltown trip for June.
@@whiskyonthewestcoast Fantastic, you will love it…Whisky heaven
I’m really interested in you reviewing a comparative flight of IBs! Pls don’t waste the time with Diageo stuff. Maybe worthwhile would be a show on alternatives to their various “profiles” but there’s been enough well-deserved hate vids elsewhere in the WhiskyVerse already that it’s either more preaching to the choir or unsavory ass kissing for more freebie “shelf terds”.