Mortlach 1987-2000 Scotch Single Malt Circle #3635

Impressively rich but without any off-putting sherry notes. Mortlach MORTLACH 1987-2000 Scotch Single malt Circle #3635 54.6% The aroma features intense European oak sherry, caramel sauce, black sugar, concentrated tea, dried fruits, toasty barley, a rich and thick texture with viscosity. Upon drinking, it delivers bold sherry characteristics, sweet dried fruits and jam flavors, a good tannic finish, rich and thick body with a long aftertaste. [Good/Very Good] From the Scotch Single Malt Circle of Germany, Mortlach 1987-2000 aged for approximately 13 years. Although short-aged, the aroma clearly conveys strong sherry notes, likely from a first-fill cask. In addition to the intense sherry-derived aromas of caramel, black sugar, and dried fruits, a strong barley note typical of short-aged casks was also present. On the palate, it is similarly dominated by bold sherry characteristics, with a rich fruity sweetness and good tannic finish. The impression of a very rich and textured mouthfeel was notable, with a full-bodied profile and long finish. In Mortlach's reputation for rich character, many bottles have historically carried a 'rich + sulfur' impression. Furthermore, considering the 1980s bottling of 'Barry Sherry' (which typically has more sulfur notes), this bottle might seem unappealing at first glance, but it was largely free of any off-putting sulfur. As a short-aged sherry cask malt from the 1980s, this is arguably an excellent example.