Decadent Drinks just released these two bottlings: Westport 2003 (technically a blended malt, but obviously a teaspooned malt from the giraffe distillery, you know) with a sherry finish, and Mortlach 2005 from a fresh bourbon barrel. We’re in the Decadent Drams series here.
Westport 21 yo 2003 (51,8%, Decadent Drinks 2024, refill hogshead + first fill American oak Oloroso hogshead finish, 217 btl.)
Nose: very aromatic, with a lot of fruit cake, soaked raisins, peaches in syrup and plenty of (blood) oranges. Vanilla sugar and honey. Then also figs, marmalade and a nice hint of furniture polish. This also brings a hint of fresh oak shavings, some pipe tobacco and something lightly perfumed – maybe vetiver? Attractive.
Mouth: more of these aromatic notes. Syrupy fruits, lots of sultanas, fresh plum and orange. Then it evolves to lemon balm, a mild herbal side and the typical acidity and rancio note of an old cognac. Honey, but also a feeling of potpourri. Tobacco leaves, marzipan, drops of orange blossom water, more marmalade and fruit teas.
Finish: quite long, with more fruit tea, raisins, marmalade and a resinous / leafy layer.
This has a peculiar woodiness to it, resinous and fragrant, which makes it a little spin-doctored. Very entertaining whisky. Available from Decadent Drinks direct, or Royal Mile Whiskies for instance.
Mortlach 19 yo 2005 (52%, Decadent Drinks 2024, first fill bourbon barrel, 181 btl.)
Nose: big, fat Mortlach. There’s a hint of Williams pears, a little chalk and wax, fresh putty and litres of sunflower oil. A hint of mirabelle eau-de-vie, dandelions. Then bready notes, a little green banana, wee minty notes. Lots of tiny elements, it keeps developing for a very long time.
Mouth: more fattiness, plenty of sweet chalk, paraffin, subtle hints of bitter oranges. Still a hint of eau-de-vie, in a nice way. Lighter honey, sweet herbs, gorse flower, apple and lemon peels. Minerals and grapefruits.
Finish: long, always this sweetened sunflower oil note. Chalk, light pepper and cereal notes.
Love this fatty character. A great tension between austere and rich elements. I’ve always had a “yes, but…” opinion about Mortlach, but this is very good and pretty unique for a Speysider. Check Decadent Drinks or Royal Mile Whiskies again. Score: 89/100