Mortlach 21yo 1989 (57.8%, SMWS, First–fill Sherry Butt, 76.84, +/-2012)

On the nose there is some ‘sparkle’ or fizziness followed by a flash of ‘industrial’ or solvent quickly surpassed by crème brûlée and an intriguing slightly sour moment (think sour candies) but not unpleasantness like sour milk. Or a fizzy sour martini or such…in any case enough with the sour notes. There is scant sight of the sherry until a few minutes in when it makes a welcome appearance. Very good so far. The taste is very good and the sherry does show up nicely and everything pops into place with some good meatiness and the sherry working in sync to deliver a first rate taste experience. Lovely, lovely, lovely. All hands on deck this is really very good. The finish is more of the sherry and more of the meatiness with a little bit of the fizziness and then some leather and tobacco. The finish is not overly long but this can be resovled by simply having another sip.

Really very good, find one if you can.

$145 and 239 bottles for the US branch of the Society.

Score 90 points

Part 3 of 4 featuring the excellent single cask single malts of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America. Samples kindly provided by the SMWS of A.

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/ for further information on their single cask bottlings.