Mortlach 2007 The Old Malt Cask 13 yo c. HL18667

 

 

 

50° 

Distillery : Mortlach - Speyside

Wine Cask

Independent Bottling

By Hunter Laing & Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The reputation of The Old Malt Cask range is well established. Nearly a thousand bottlings since 1998. It is an institution in the independent whisky world. Here we have a Mortlach aged for 13 years and 11 months in a wine cask, before being released in the form of 262 bottles. Like many editions in this range, the juice is reduced to 50°, which is a good balance.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Full-bodied and malty, with the sensation of a touch of iodine. Juicy pears and apples, white plums, apricot purée, sweet vanilla. Slightly vinous acidity, elegant woodiness. A hint of lemon, floral fragrances. Quite robust, but without excess. The alcohol is very well integrated, it's creamy. After a while, the wine becomes more intense, with heather, roots, rich, black earth. Sweet and suave on the palate, pears and honey, then some spices, paprika and cumin, black pepper, some cereals, barley, straw, tall grass. Slight woody bitterness at the end. Nice finish, quite intense, long, once again very ripe orchard fruits. Dried banana, malty undertones, oats. Cashew nuts.

 

In Short, 

You have to let it air out a bit, and it reveals all its secrets. It's very fruity, with a touch of iodine and cereals. On the other hand, a small flaw for me, the nose lacks power. It is nevertheless a very pleasant whisky, to drink in the spring, with a very good value for money. Don't hesitate in case you find it by chance.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

Scarabus 10 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay 

Refill Ex-Bourbon and Virgin American Oak Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Hunter Laing & Co. 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured   

Following the success of the Scarabus Islay Single Malt launched the previous year, Hunter Laing has released this Scarabus 10 Year Old in December 2020, accompanied by a Batch Strength edition. The aim is to keep the public waiting for the first juices from the Ardnahoe distillery, owned by Hunter Laing, which will be delivered around 2023. Of course, this whisky is beautifully peated, aged in bourbon casks, not chill-filtered, and we'll pretend we don't know it's Caol Ila.

 

Let's Taste It : 

A drizzle of cold cigar ash, juicy citrus fruits, lemon zest, grapefruit slice, bewitching smoke. Slight hints of the sea, tide, kelp, a bit of foam. Sea breeze. Nice iodine freshness at the end. On the palate, quite light at first, followed by virulent spices, pepper, cumin, nutmeg, all coupled with vanilla, thick peat and lemonade. Coarse salt. Nuts and cashew. Beautiful finish, long, powerful, on rock, slate, a touch of acidity, chalky charcoal. Ginger. Crushed almonds.

 

In Short, 

Some slight imbalances on the nose and palate, but this is very well offset by the finish, which I found excellent. Overall, a coastal and iodised Islay, very nice and full-bodied, lots of ash and not too expensive. It reminded me of Finlaggan Eilean Mor, but this one is riper and more intense. I recommend buying it, but you should know that I found the Batch Strength much better, almost at the same price. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listend While Sipping :

  

                                          Amber Run - I Found

Scarabus Batch Strength

 

 

 

57°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay 

Refill Ex-Bourbon and American Virgin Oak Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Hunter Laing & Co. 

Core Range

Single Malt 

Launched in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

 

 

 

As it will be at least 3 years before the Ardnahoe distillery's first Single Malt is released, the owners have decided to keep us waiting with this independent bottling, which they distribute via their famous trading company, Hunter Laing & Co. First, the Scarabus Specially Selected was released at Feis Ile 2019, followed by the 10 Year Old and this Batch Strength in December 2020. Hunter Laing & Co. is thus setting itself up as a rival to the Big Peat from the Douglas Laing & Co. cousins, and it's going to turn into a fratricidal duel. Scarabus means 'place of the rock' in Norse and is said to be a well-known spot on the island of Islay.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

First of all, the nose is strongly iodised; you're eating foam and sniffing kelp. It reminds me of Caol Ila. Entire granite cliffs collapsing into the sea. Graphite. An ashtray full of fine ash. Factory smoke, perhaps a little toxic. Thick, vegetable peat. Some white fruits with the addition of water, but barely. Unrefined sea salt. Vanilla. Banana. Very oily on the palate, where the peat imposes itself without suspense, with a fine vanilla bean. The finish is a complete success, long and as full of charcoal as one could wish, with a hint of almonds.

 

In Short, 

It's so good! Big Peat and all the other peat bombs need to watch out! It's powerful, but also subtle, with a hint of fruit and a lovely finish. For me, it's Caol Ila, and if it's not, it's Lagavulin. And if it's not, it's Caol Ila. Definitely worth buying if you like peat at all.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Fugazi - Glueman