Mortlach 11 Years Old 2009 (Hunter Laing)

Hunter Laing, the Laing family independent based in Glasgow, released this 11 Year Old: a 2009 vintage, an outturn of 715 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.

Eleven years in ex-Bourbon let oak meet weight, vanilla and honey from lignin and wood sugars settling over the bold, full-bodied make.

At 46% it shows vanilla, cooked fruit and a savoury weight carried on the heavy Dufftown body. A muscular Speyside malt.