Mortlach 1989 Over 35 Years Artist #15 The Dark Side Of The Moon 700ml

44.2% ABV, 700ml. Scotland. Distillery: Mortlach.

Oldest whisky in the Artist #15 range dedicated to sherry cask maturation, this single malt takes us to the oldest of the six distilleries found in the village of Dufftown, the self-proclaimed Whisky Capital of the World. Founded in 1823 by James Findlater, Mortlach was mothballed between 1837 and 1851, during which time it served variously as a church and a brewery. In 1897, the number of stills increased from three to six, and the distillery became known for its unique partial triple distillation process (2.8). A magnificent journey through time, this expression unfolds in a tapestry of fruity, infused, honeyed, waxy, spicy, chocolatey, and malty chapters, each layered with a patina and nobility that feels deeply poetic.

Tasting Notes:

Nose : Ample and elegant. Scents of wax, candied orange, roasted walnut, vanilla pod, and musk form an initial aromatic ensemble that is both profound and complex. With aeration, a delicate layer of salted butter caramel, bay leaf infusion, and Sichuan pepper gradually takes over the aromatic space.

Appearance : cuivre orangé à reflets verdâtres.

Palate : Rich and silky. Also infused (verbena, chamomile), the flavour palette is nobly spiced (saffron, cardamom), herbal (green tea), and compote-like. Gradually, honeyed (lavender) and fruity (pineapple, banana) notes bring remarkable softness and balance. Over time, cocoa powder spreads across the palate.

Overall : Long and stately. With a velvety texture (peach skin, Corinth grape), it evolves towards finely chocolatey, powdery, and spiced registers (ginger, clove, cinnamon). Revisiting the wax polish notes from the initial nose, the retro-olfaction returns gracefully to malty and saffron-rich territory. Just as refined, the empty glass is waxy.

La Maison du Whisky

La Maison du Whisky (often abbreviated as LMDW) is a highly respected French independent bottler, importer and distributor of premium whiskies and fine spirits. Founded in 1956, the company has progressively grown from a small Paris shop, to international trader of spirits on a national, European, and finally global scale – establishing its position on the world stage via its Singapore subsidiary and its LM&V (La Maison & Velier) joint-venture. With curiosity and innovation as guiding principles, La Maison du Whisky is always growing its expertise and know-how; providing training, organising Whisky Live Paris and publishing guides, catalogues and Whisky Magazine since 2004.