Single Malt
Scotland
1 Jan 1998
1 Jan 2016
A single cask bottling of Mortlach single malt, distilled in 1998 and bottled by Signatory in 2016. Before it was bottled, it was finished in a Sherry cask for 58 months, imparting rich, sweet fruit notes to the robust malt. 695 bottles were produced for la Maison du Whisky's Artist series, featuring a label designed by Koralie.
Full-bodied, unctuous. The initial nose is splendid and radiant, with a delicate salinity superimposed on citrus zest, aromatic plants (camomile), heady florals (lily, iris) and candied fruit (apple, plum). It gradually takes on a chocolatey, roasted (pipe tobacco, coffee) and spicy (cardamom, cloves) character. With remarkable depth, it continues with notes of saffron, accompanied by a hint of tar and rancio.
Lively, precise. Delicious sweet brioche attack. Exotic fruit (pineapple, passion fruit, mango) follow with abundant energy. This continues into the mid-palate, which becomes remarkably mineral (schist, slate), roasted (tea) and mentholated. Very full-bodied, the end of the palate evokes rum with heady scents of geranium.
Long, silky. Velvety, oily tannins coat the taste buds, while oranges flood the palate with sweet, tangy juice. Still with the same freshness, it grows increasingly floral (rose petals) and herbaceous (courgette fritters). Divinely chocolatey and silky, the retro-nasal olfaction has incredible length. The empty glass wavers between aromatic plants, cinnamon and bourbon vanilla.
