Master of Cocktails Tasting Notes Reconstructed

Greetings one and all to another edition of #MasterofCocktails. If you didn’t catch last week’s instalment, you might not have seen that we’re changing up how we do this – a much less step-by-step affair, though you’ll be getting more advanced, exciting recipes, with more focus on presentation and garnish. This week we’re going to be using the ‘Beast of Dufftown’, Mortlach single malt Scotch whisky.

List of Ingredients

Method

In making it, I took quite a simple approach, that resulted in a very complex execution (but ultimately worth it). I split the individually named flavours out into nose, palate and finish, and set about reconstructing them. So…

First, I looked at the Mortlach website, and found the tasting notes for Mortlach Rare Old.

This is what the site names for the nose of the whisky…

Master of Cocktails Mortlach Whisky

So we macerated ‘that’ in a base of the whisky, cold-distilled, and put into a vaporiser bottle.

Master of Cocktails Macerate

Master of Cocktails Macerate

Master of Cocktails Macerate

For the palate, I made a syrup from this little lot, under sous-vide for 2 hours…

Master of Cocktails Sous Vide

Master of Cocktails Sous Vide

Then dissolved some toffee in the Mortlach (60ml), and filtered the result.

Master of Cocktails Dissolve

Master of Cocktails Dissolve

For the finish – plain chocolate ganache, chilli & black pepper bitters, and whisky rolled in blackcurrant powder.

Master of Cocktails Finish

Master of Cocktails Finish

Master of Cocktails Finish

To serve, simply atomise the ‘nose’ distillate over the glass. Nose>Palate>Finish. Tasting Notes; Reconstructed. It’s an extremely tasty drink. I’d be interested to know if anyone else has had a crack at anything similar.

Master of Cocktails

Pretty.

Incidentally – if you like the look of those glasses (they’re beautiful aren’t they?) we’re selling them now, here.

That’s all for now – back in 2 weeks for more #MasterofCocktails.

Ben