MORTLACH 15 YEAR OLD 43%
Single Malt Whisky, Scotland / Speyside, 70cl, Ref: 14299
Our experts reviews
“ We were lucky enough to visit the Mortlach distillery in 1996 in the company of the Master Distiller. Nearly twenty years have passed, and yet we still remember virtually every minute. This wonderful place produces a very full-bodied, very concentrated Speyside single malt. If there is a category of ‘whisky-lover’s whiskies’, then Mortlach is in it. A perfect balance of dryness and sweetness, Gordon & MacPhail’s 15 year old is the archetypal single malt from this distillery. La Maison du Whisky has distributed this great Scotch and all of Gordon & MacPhail’s whiskies in France since 1970.This distillery carries out two and a half distillations (the foreshots and feints are re-distilled). The result is one of Speyside’s richest single malts. Bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, this release is a perfect example.

Sourcing actor, importer and exclusive distributor of a portfolio of international brands, La Maison du Whisky is, since 60 years a reference for whisky and spirit lovers. Thanks to our close relationships with producers and independent bottlers, we have access to limited editions and unique products we bring to market exclusively. Curious and creative, we are driven by our passion for products and our desire to constantly bring our clients the latest expressions through our own shops, our website whisky.fr and selected wine retail shops in France.
- Description
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Product details
- Type / Subtype : Whisky / Single Malt Whisky
- Brand / Distillery : Mortlach
- Country / Region : Scotland / Speyside
- Merchant : Gordon & Macphail
- Line : DISTILLERY LABELS
- Strength : 43%
- Volume : 70cl
- Age : 15 Yo
- Peated : Unpeated
- Packaging : Case
- SKU : 14299
Tasting note
- Appearance : old gold with glints of amber.
- Nose : full-bodied, concentrated. Simultaneously fruity (pears, cherry plums), floral (lilies, gardenias) and spicy (saffron, ginger), it evolves into notes of leather, dark chocolate, and dried fruit (dates, apricots).
- Palate : rich, powerful. Plenty to chew on. Characterised by notes of honey drops, citrus fruit zest (orange) and cocoa. Slightly smoky, it develops aromas of flowers (purple lilac) and star anise.
- Overall : long, balanced. Develops notes of precious wood and leather with a hint of red fruit (strawberries and raspberries). Lingering aromas of spices and freshly cut grass.
- The brand
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The brand
Founded in 1823, Mortlach is allegedly built on the site of a former illicit distillery. It was one of the rare distilleries allowed to produce alcohol during the second world war, right up until 1944. Using partial triple distillation and a traditional “worm tube” condensation system – also used by Talisker and Edradour – Mortlach produces a very delicate distillate. As is the case with many of the distilleries owned by the Diageo group, very few official bottlings of the malt exist outside of the Flora & Fauna and Rare Malts ranges released in the 1990s.
Merchant
This independent bottler is without a doubt one of the most highly acclaimed in Scotland. It stands out, not for its age (though it is the oldest independent bottler in Scotland), but for its complete mastery of cask ageing. Gordon & MacPhail is the only bottler to have its own casks - carefully chosen for the purpose - filled by the distilleries themselves, instead of simply buying the ones suggested to them by the latter. This allows it to determine, in advance and with great precision, exactly how many years a whisky will need to reach ideal maturation.
The line
The Distillery Labels range reflects the special relationship Gordon & MacPhail has had with a handful of distilleries for over a century. Year after year, Gordon & Macphail is entrusted with new make spirits (the distillates), and has developed its art of maturing whisky, highlighting each expression under a unique label. An honour for these distilleries, which have become emblematic today, who used to bottle little or no single malt under their own brand name.