Description

Mortlach Aged 10 Years Rum Cask Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky – That Boutique-Y Whisky Company (700ml)

Volume: 700ml        ABV: 45.8%             Age: 10 Years Old          Country: Scotland

The Whisky

Unleash the “Beast of Dufftown” with a tropical twist in this Mortlach 10 Year Old by That Boutique-y Whisky Company. This 700ml independent bottling captures Mortlach in a rare and playful light. After maturing for a decade, it was finished in an Ex-Rum Cask, a bold choice that softens Mortlach’s legendary “meaty” character with a layer of Caribbean sweetness.

Bottled at a precise 45.8% ABV, this release is highly exclusive with only 445 bottles produced. Mortlach is famous for its complex “2.81” distillation process, which usually produces a heavy, savoury spirit. By using a rum cask, Boutique-y has created a fascinating contrast: the raw, muscular power of the distillate meets the syrupy, spice-driven influence of sugar cane. As is tradition with Boutique-y, the label features a hand drawn illustration that often contains “inside jokes” or historical nods to the distillery’s industrial past.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: A dense and intriguing bouquet. You are greeted by the classic Mortlach “umami” punch—leather and cured meats—but it is immediately swirled into sticky molasses and overripe bananas. As it breathes, sweeter notes of caramelised pineapple and toasted coconut emerge, creating a scent that is both savory and decadently tropical.

Palate: The arrival is thick and oily, coating the mouth with chewy toffee and dark honey. Mid palate, the rum influence shines through with brown sugar and flambéed fruits, while the spirit’s natural weight provides a savoury backbone of roasted walnuts and a hint of beef bouillon. The 45.8% strength ensures the flavours are vibrant without being overwhelming.

Finish: Medium to long and wonderfully warming. The finish lingers with sweet tobacco and baking spices (cinnamon and clove), finally tapering off with a final, savoury flourish of dunnage oak and a whisper of tropical fruit peel.

The Distillery

Mortlach, established in 1823, was the first legal distillery in Dufftown. It is globally renowned for its unique and incredibly scientific distillation process involving six differently shaped stills, described as “2.81 distilled.” A unique factual detail: This process creates a spirit that is much heavier and “meatier” than its Speyside neighbours, a profile that blenders have coveted for centuries to add “shoulders” to their whiskies. In this Boutique-y bottling, that legendary weight is given a new dimension by the Ex-Rum Cask, proving that even the “Beast” has a sweet side.

Overall Review

The Mortlach 10 Year Old Boutique-y Rum Cask is globally reviewed as a “brilliant subversion of the Mortlach style,” praised for its balance of savoury and sweet. Critics have lauded its “heavy, satisfying mouthfeel,” marking it as a mandatory purchase for fans of independent bottlings who want to see a Speyside heavyweight dancing in a Caribbean rhythm.