Note by Serge Valentin from whiskyfun.com:
Mortlach 26 yo 1988/2015 (56.1%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, butt) Colour: gold. Nose: there, this is a more traditional Mortlach (in a way), starting leathery, full of walnuts, and a tad sulphury (used matches, gunpowder). It’s quite ashy as well, and really very meaty. Smoked beef stands out. I also find some herbalness, around fruit stems, as well as a little cough medicine. A big old-school Mortlach! With water: more beef, cold cuts, parsley, even shallot… Plus pipe tobacco and, indeed, leather. Totally ‘Mortlach’. Mouth (neat): indeed, a super-beefy one. Can you season some beef stock with Grand-Marnier? And leather powder? I’d say this is not for everyone, but experienced malt enthusiasts may find a kind of… authenticity to this. With water: more bouillon, plus chestnut honey. If you never tried chestnut honey, please do, it’s hidden in many malt whiskies, you’ll see. Finish: long, a tad sweeter and jammier, but there’s some ginger and there’s some leather. And walnut wine. Comments: it’s obviously very cool to find a Mortlach that doesn’t taste like Glenfiddich or Cardhu (yeah or Rosebank). But once again, a word of caution, this is maybe not for the casual whisky lover. Me, I quite love. SGP:562 - 88 points.
