After the excellent Mortlach 16 Years I really wanted to try other expressions, so here is the base expression Mortlach 12 Years. It’s a mix of both bourbon and sherry casks.
Mortlach 12 yo ‘The Wee Witchie’ (43,4%, OB 2018)
Nose: a bourbonny freshness this time: juicy fruits (stewed pear, tart berries, lemon candy), vanilla and toffee. Candied ginger and honey. A light earthy note in the background, quite weighty but this is no beast and no old-school Mortlach either.
Mouth: sweet and spicy. Berries and peaches. Orange peel. Vanilla, cinnamon and ginger. Hints of butterscotch. Again quite weighty, perhaps more typically meaty now as well. Light tobacco notes.
Finish: medium long, with light oak spices, hints of roasted malt and mocha.
Simply well balanced whisky, there’s a hint of the classic Mortlach character but also a fresh, modern feel. Very good as an entry-level whisky. Available from Master of Malt or The Whisky Exchange for instance.
Score: 84/100