Mortlach 33 Years Old 1987 Cask #426 (Gordon & MacPhail)

Gordon & MacPhail of Elgin, whose deep stocks include some of the oldest Mortlach in existence, drew this 33 Year Old, a 1987 vintage from cask 426, an outturn of 182 bottles. Mortlach, owned by John Walker & Sons from 1923, makes a dense, sulphury Speyside through worm tubs and its singular 2.81-times distillation.

Thirty-three years in Oloroso drew the oily, meaty spirit to a profound depth, long oxidation and heavy evaporation over figgy dried fruit, leather and old wood.

At 55.6% it shows fig, date, leather and dark chocolate over the meaty Mortlach body, undiluted. A bold, sherried Mortlach.