Mortlach 1978/2021 G&M PVC Private Collection Cask #996

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 47.4% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

This Mortlach matured for 43 years in a single Refill American Hogshead. Distilled on 8 February 1978, the single malt remained in cask No. 996 until bottling on 3 December 2021. Refill denotes a cask previously used to mature whisky. Gordon & MacPhail released the whisky as part of the Private Collection, for which members of the Urquhart family select particularly long-matured single malts.

The cask yielded 99 bottles of 0.7 litres each. The whisky was bottled at its natural cask strength of 47.4%, without chill filtration or added colouring. It comes in a wooden presentation case; both the bottle and case bear dark labels with gold-coloured details.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, sweet Seville oranges combine with fragrant pineapple and a hint of preserved quince. Candied violets, lime, hazelnuts and black pepper also develop.
• Palate: On the palate, ripe red apples meet dark honey and subtle ginger spice. Lush exotic fruit notes give way to a delicate herbal note.
• Finish: The finish is full and lightly spicy. Citrus and anise linger.

Distillery/Bottler:

Mortlach was founded in 1823 and is located in Dufftown, Speyside. George Cowie and Alexander Cowie were among the distillery’s formative figures. Alexander Cowie is associated with its unusual distillation process, calculated at 2.81 times, which continues to contribute to the distillery’s robust character.

Gordon & MacPhail is the independent bottler behind this release. The company’s roots lie in its shop on South Street in Elgin, established in 1895. Maturation in its own casks is part of its approach. For the Private Collection, the directors, including members of the third and fourth generations of the Urquhart family, select individual casks. The whisky’s maturity determines when it is bottled.

Facts: