The Mortlach 12 Year Old Scotch Review

By Kenrick Thurston-Wilcox

Rating: B

Mortlach 12 Year Old Single Malt
(Credit: Diageo)

Mortlach is most likely not a household name to the average whiskey (or “whisky”) drinker, yet many have probably tasted at least some of what this distillery has to offer. That is because the distillery is known for it’s use in blends, particularly Johnnie Walker.

It’s also known for it’s complex distillation system known as “The Way.” Created by Alexander Cowie, the process is responsible for creating a very distinct whiskey with lots of depth. At the heart of this process is the smallest still dubbed, “The Wee Witchie”. The 12 Year Old bottling is named after this essential still, and is a blend of whiskies matured in both American and European oak. The youngest age in the distilleries core lineup, it also reflects the small but essential still.

The Scotch
The liquid itself is a medium lemon-gold color. On the nose, the aroma is a little subdued, but pleasant, with notes of lemon, some musk/earthiness, honey (yet not sweet) and a slight hint of leather and tobacco. I also noticed a tiny bit of burnt plastic or cheese, which I attributed to a bigger portion of the tails being added. Not unpleasant, but definitely there.

On the palate, the liquid starts off light and watery, but quickly builds up in flavor as it warms your tongue. Honey is the first thing I noticed, again not sweet, with fig coming in next, some leather and a slight coconut taste. The whiskey leaves a nice tingling sensation long after it’s gone. The finish is simple, just a leathery taste that is almost smoky. You can tell the blender did a good job of making sure the different oaks play well together.

With a couple drops of water, the nose changes drastically to more leather and tobacco, almost smoky. The palate is slightly muted but appealing. The honey seems to cover all the other notes in a slightly sticky sweet blend. The finish is still one note, honey being prevalent, yet still nice and long.

The Price
The bottle averages about $55-$65 depending on where you find it. Mortlach being a more uncommon find in the wild, I feel the price for this flagship is fair. Especially for the average drinker who has probably never heard of them.