This SMWS bottling is a 20 year old Mortlach from 1989, matured in a First Fill Sherry Butt. Mortlach usually works rather well with Sherry casks, so I expected quite something from this little sample I got. This one is called ‘Spiritual Ascension’.

Nose:
The first thing I got was candied orange peels, like in English marmalade. A heavy full blast of sherry follows. Those fruity Christmas cakes are present too. Sugared cherries and plums. Lots of fruity goodness!

Taste:
Quite fierce on the palate. Sweet and light spices with dried fruits and sticky toffee pudding. Also some leather and some wood.

Finish:
The finish has more of the traditional sherry goodness I expected with again lots of dried fruit. Quite some wood again as well. Sweet citrus, like those orange peels I got at first.

This is a tremendous dram. I didn’t rate it at first, I only wrote tasting notes, but by reading the notes again, I really want it! Terrific stuff, so it does right by the Mortlach standards. Especially older Mortlach.

76.75, Mortlach, August 1989-2010,  58.5%, SMWS, € 100 at the SMWS shop, but by the time you read this, it might have been sold out…

Nose: 9
Taste: 8
Finish: 9
Overal experience: 9
Price/quality: +1

Total: 36 points