Mortlach 2016

Mortlach’s prestige has rocketed in the last decade, as its very particular style allowed it to quickly gain fame as a single malt, rather than a constituent of a blend.

This cask has only just had its 4th birthday, which would be young for any Scotch whisky. Age feels like it is of extra importance to Mortlach, due to the famous ‘meatiness’ of its character. Rich, heavy and quite oily at the new make stage; heavier whiskies like this tend to find their maturity later, and we would recommend bottling a Mortlach sometime after its 10th birthday, at least. Naturally, every whisky is unique, so a different judgement call can be made, depending on how a sample of the whisky feels.

Official Mortlach releases have tended to be matured in ex-sherry casks. Mortlach’s weight partners extremely well with these richer casks – so if re-racking is planned, then this is an option that should be seriously considered.

Auction estimate: £11,000 – £13,000

Auction has ended. The winning bidder has been notified.

Cask Details

DistilleryMortlach
RegionSpeyside
Age4 years
Distillation DateNovember 14, 2016
Cask TypeHogshead
Peated?No
Original Litre of Alcohol (OLA)170.10 litres
Re-gauge ABV72.60%
New Bulk Litres234.50 litres
Re-gauge DateN/A
Bottles335
Cask Number167

Tasting Notes

N/A – No sample was made available.

About The Distillery

Mortlach is no wallflower. Right from the passing of the excise act in 1823, Mortlach has been making whisky. It was the first legal distillery in Dufftown, a place which is now synonymous with being the epicentre of all that is excellent in the world of Scotch. A young William Grant learned his craft here before setting out to found his own venture – a little distillery by the name of ‘Glenfiddich’.

Affectionately known as ‘The Beast of Dufftown’, Mortlach is a big and bold whisky in every way. Most Scottish distilleries double distil, some might triple distil, but that’s not going to cut it for Mortlach. Since the turn of the 20th century, Mortlach have run their spirit through their stills 2.81 times, a complex formula that delivers them exactly the character they desire.

That character is, in a word, bold. Mortlach remains the densest and meatiest dram in Scotland, a fact which made it a darling of blenders as a perfect supporting note in their blends. In recent years, this forthright character has also made Mortlach highly sought after as a unique single malt. Other distilleries have since opted to produce heavier spirit, but none have taken it as seriously as Mortlach.

Buyer’s note: We cannot offer a photo of this cask due to the regulations on Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations that are imposed in the warehouse.

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Auction Details

  • Bidding will end on December 27th at 5:00pm GMT subject to continuation defined below.
  • If any bid is received within the last 5 minutes of bidding across any of the current auction listings, the entire auction will be extended for an additional 5 minutes. The auction will officially close when a period of 5 minutes has passed without a new bid.
  • All bids represent a legally binding contract to purchase the designated item.
  • The highest bidder at conclusion of the auction will immediately be charged a £500 deposit by credit card; the remaining balance will be due within 72 hours of auction close by bank wire transfer.
  • Failure to send proof of payment within 72 hours will result in a penalty of 1% of the hammer price for each day the payment is delinquent.
  • Upon verification that all funds due have been received, ownership of the cask will be transferred to the buyer and the buyer will be sent a title certificate. As per Scottish regulations, the cask must remain in a government bonded warehouse until bottling.
  • No samples will be provided during the auction.
  • If two bidders place a bid in the same amount, the first bid placed will be the winner.
  • Storage will be included for a period of 2 years from the conclusion of the auction. All other costs related to storage, removal from storage, insurance, transportation, bottling and duties/taxes will be the sole responsibility of the buyer.
  • A reserve price has been set for the auction. If the reserve price is not reached then the seller, in their sole discretion, can choose whether to accept the high bid or may offer a counter offer. All bids placed by buyers are binding, even when the reserve price has not been met, until the seller declines the highest bid.
  • A 10% buyers premium will be added to the highest prevailing bid. No buyers premium will be due if the reserve price is not met and the seller choses not to accept the high bid.