1997 Acorn's Mortlach 21 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Acorn are another independent bottler who should be on every serious whisky lover's shortlist. Operating from Ikebukuro, Tokyo, the owner, Mr. Seishi Tsuta begun his project after working for Oddbins wine auctions in London throughout the 70s and 1980s, followed by another ten years in Tokyo working for a wine and whisky specialist. Early releases under the Acorn label included single cask Lagavulins and Port Ellens. These were followed by a steady output that's been consistently first rate. Preservation of distillery character remains key to the company's philosophy, never allowing the cask to dominate the spirit. We're fortunate to be able to offer these very limited single cask expressions sourced from some of Scotland’s top distilleries, each selected by one of Australia's finest whisky bars.

Single cask, cask strength Mortlachs are getting increasingly rare, with indies leading the charge. Whisky writer, Dave Broom describes the distillery's main claim to fame (production wise) as "...the home of the most fiendishly complex distillation regime in Scotland". Worm tubs combined with a sophisticated partial-triple distillation and adherence to very traditional practices yields meatier, richer, darker flavours. Always on the heavier end of the Speyside scale, this one was matured in an ex- bourbon cask.

Tasting note: [Cask #7209] Perfect gold. You could sniff this for hours... Light beeswax before entering cream-tea-biscuit territory on the nose with brief air contact inviting a fruity aspect: Ripe bananas and pineapple through to poached pears and cream with one of the softest nose-feels imaginable. You barely notice the spirit kick as the malt floods the mouth. Beeswaxy on entry, then superbly fresh, fruity and tangy through the later stages. Finish highlights the oily malt, while the aftertaste turns waxy, peppery with lingering dried apricots. It's slightly let down by the length, otherwise fabulous all-round. If you like Clynelish you'll love this. 55.6% Alc./Vol.