Mortlach 10 Years Old 2009 (Hunter Laing)

Hunter Laing, the Laing family independent based in Glasgow, drew this 10 Year Old: from a 2009 vintage, an outturn of 364 bottles. The first legal distillery in Dufftown, Mortlach builds its meaty weight through low-copper worm tubs and the 2.81 distillation, and has anchored Johnnie Walker for a century.

Across ten years in American oak, esterification got underway and the meaty spirit rounded, vanilla and light toffee folding in.

At 46% it shows malt, dried fruit and a leathery edge carried on the heavy Dufftown body. Big, savoury and full-bodied.