Mortlach 2000 Review


Country: Scotland 
Region: Highland - Speyside
Brand: Mortlach 2000 (Coopers Choice) 
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 46 %

Colour: Chardonnay Wine

Nose: Clean, Floral and Fruity with Honey, Dried Fruits, Artificial Cherry Flavour, light Oak, Vanilla, Milk Chocolate, Caramel, Malt, lightly Buttered Toast and Apricot Marmalade, light Spices and hints of Coffee and Licorice. The Alcohol is not yet fully integrated. 

Palate: Again, Fruity and Floral with Pear, Grappa, Honey, Heather, Caramel, light Oak, Malt, light Spices, light Licorice and a pinch of Salt.

Finish: Middle-Long and Warming with Malt, Caramel, Milk Chocolate, light Oak, Butterscotch, White Pepper and Winter Spices. 

The Mortlach 2000 does not improve with added Water. The ABV of 46% is spot on.   

Rating: 86

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5


General Remarks: The Mortlach Distillery was built in 1823 by James Findlater in Dufftown, Banffshire. Today it is owned by Diageo and forms an important part of Johnnie Walker Black and Double Black. Mortlach is currently expanding and by the end of 2015 production capacity will reach around 8 million litres. Mortlach Single Malts are not that easy to find. The Flora and Fauna 16 years is the only Distillery bottling. This is where Independent Bottlers come in play.

The Single Malt we are tasting today was distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2011. It was matured by - and bottled for The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. Ltd under their brand name Coopers Choice. This Independent Bottler was founded in 1992 by Brian Cook, a guy with over 20 years of experience in the Malt Whisky Industry. It matured in Ex-Bourbon Hogshead # 9052 and costs around 65 US Dollars. Only 390 bottles were commercialised. This whisky is naturally coloured and not chill-filtered.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: A light, crisp, unpretentious but well-balanced Fruity and Floral Speysider that I enjoyed sipping. Excellent suggestion for an Aperitif on a warm Summer Day. Nice Coffee and Milk Chocolate Tones. Perfect ABV. Check it out if you can find it!

Jan van den Ende                                                           November 19, 2013

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