Earlier today, news came of the launch of Mortlach 70 Year Old. At the time of writing, it’s the oldest bottled Single Malt Whisky in the world.
Bottled by Gordon and Macphail, an award-winning malt whisky specialist from Elgin, this super-luxury whisky has been produced and bottled exactly 70 years from the day it was laid down on 15 October 1938.
The World’s Oldest Whisky
Mortlach 70 Year Old spent the whole of those seven decades maturing in a Spanish bodega sherry hogshead.
The presentation of whiskies of this age and calibre is paramount, and this release certainly does not disappoint. Presented in a crystal and Sterling Silver decanter, all housed in a handmade box made from Brazilian Rosewood.
Whilst we’ve not (yet) tasted this world’s first of a dram, we can include below tasting notes from Charles Maclean.
An absolute snip at only £9999!
Mortlach has an unusual distillation process
Meet Mortlach
Mortlach Distillery does not do delicate. It does not chase trends. Known as The Beast of Dufftown, this Speyside distillery has built its reputation on weight, muscle and unapologetic richness, producing whisky that feels more like a full meal than an aperitif.
Founded in 1823, Mortlach was the first legal distillery in Dufftown. It runs one of the most eccentric distillation regimes in Scotland. A complicated 2.81-times distillation that sounds like maths homework and tastes like power. This is Speyside for people who think Speyside is sometimes a bit polite.
Mortlach 12 Year Old
The gateway Beast. Nicknamed “The Wee Witchie” after the famously small still that plays a big role in Mortlach’s character, this one delivers meaty richness, dark fruit, spice and a chewy, satisfying weight.
Mortlach 16 Year Old
Expect polished oak, treacle, dried fruit, cocoa and savoury depth. This is Mortlach in a dinner jacket, still powerful, just better behaved.
Mortlach 20 Year Old
The Beast is fully grown. Long maturation brings layers of dark chocolate, rich spice, leather and umami complexity.
Meet The World’s Oldest Whisky
Mortlach 70 Year Old Tasting Note:
Appearance: The colour of sun-bleached polished mahogany.
Aroma: A mellow nose, at once waxy and fruity; candlewax to the fore initially, which becomes snuffed candle (a thread of smoke), with Maraschino cherries in Madeira cake behind, and after a while an orangey citric note – fresh and juicy, becoming apricot jam. Flaked almonds and whin flowers, becoming light coconut oil.
Taste: Surprisingly lively tasted straight. A smooth, waxy mouthfeel; a sweetish start, becoming moderately dry, but not overly tannic. Dried fig and tobacco notes, and an intriguing light smokiness. A long finish and, for the first time, a hint of planed hardwood in the aftertaste. With a teaspoon of water, the smooth texture is enhanced. The fresh, light sweetness becomes pleasantly sour (‘Soor Plooms’), with sooty smoke in the finish.
Comment: Remarkable! No trace of damp wood or must or bung cloth – a delicate, fresh, vital, fruity whisky, but with unusual attributes of waxiness and smokiness – uncommon today, more usual before the 1960s.
Olaf Garrison