The Dram Club - October 2019
This month, for Just A Taste’s Dram Club, I am excited to feature Douglas Laing’s Old Particular “Mortlach 11 year.”
Quick Whisky Notes:
Owned by Diageo.
Key component in Johnnie Walker Bottlings
First neighbor was Glenfiddich which was founded by previous Mortlach employee
The “Robert Mondavi Winery” of Speyside
Douglas Laing ‘Old Particular’ “Mortlach 11 Year”
Distillery: Mortlach
Blender/Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Mash Bill: 100% barley
Distilling: three copper stills
Aging: 11 years in second-fill hogshead – bottled from single cask
Distilled: November 2006
Bottled: July 2018 - Only 354 bottles produced
Nose: banana, citrus, apple – extremely fruit forward when diluted, honey, spice
Palate: medium body with rounded and razor focused acidity and minerality
Finish: a rich mid-palate kept light with long-lasting acidity
ABOUT Douglas laing
“straight from the cask”
“Abiding to the philosophy of presenting Whisky as the Distiller intended, we add nothing and take nothing away from our spirit, enabling Whisky lovers around the world to come as close as they possibly can to sampling a dram straight from the cask.”
Douglas Laing & Co. is an independent bottling company committed to expressing scotch whisky “as the Distiller intended,” meaning they add no coloring agents to the whisky nor chill filter before bottling. It was first founded in 1948 by Fred Douglas Laing after creating a special blended whisky, “King of Scots” with an American war buddy. At this time, Fred first established early “preferred filling programs” to procure exceptional whisky from different distilleries. Many of these initial contracts continue today.
The company is on its third generation and is still family owned. In 1972, Fred’s son, Fred Jr., joined Douglas Laing & Co. after spending several years learning business, distilling, and blending from several mentors, including Whyte and MacKay, White Horse Distillers, and Gardiner Ferrier. Fred Jr.’s daughter, Clara, was born in 1982 and joined the company in 2013. In its recent history, Douglas Laing & Co. released the ‘Old Malt Cask’ brand focusing on introducing Single Cask Single Malt expressions in 1999. This is later replaced by the ‘Old Particular’ line. In 2017, DLC revealed plans for a new distillery to begin along the River Clyde.
“Douglas Laing wants you to enjoy the finest Single Malt exactly as the distiller intended, which means not adding any colouring or chill filtering our spirit, but instead ‘leaving well alone’ – allowing the naturally present oils, fats and enzymes in the whisky to make their own special contribution to its nose, mouthfeel, palate and finish. Charged from a Single Cask, there’s no more honest expression than Old Particular.”
About Mortlach Distillery
“In a region generally known for its smoother, gentler style of whisky, Mortlach’s exceptional flavour bridges the gap between mellow and smoky. A 190 year secret amongst whisky epicureans across the globe, Mortlach has been nicknamed ‘The Beast of Dufftown’ by Dave Broom for its robust, muscular and rich character.”
Mortlach Distillery was founded in 1823 by James Findlater in Dufftown, the epicenter of Speyside distilleries. Over its history, the distillery changed hands numerous times and went through several unique transitions. By 1837 it was purchased by the Grant Brothers and dismantled to increase the production at their Grant Distillery. During this time, it was used as a brewery and even a church (what a place to worship!). By 1851 it began whisky production once more.
Its recent history began in 1923 when it was purchased by John Walker & Sons to be used in their blended whiskies. Distilling operations moved over to Distillery Company Limited once John Walker was bought out only a few years later. Under DCL, Mortlach went through two periods of improvements; first in 1964 when all the stills were replaced, and then again in 1996 when the production was increased to its modern capacity through the merger of Diageo brands. During this same year, a 1972 bottling bearing the first “Mortlach Distillery” brand was released, making the unique whisky available officially for lovers throughout the world.
"There is not perhaps a distillery in Scotland that has so many private customers as Mortlach from whisky spirits are sent not only over the three kingdom's to families, but to America, India, China and Australia, in all of whisky Mr Cowie has customers who prefer his distillation to all others".
Throughout its unique course, the whisky from Mortlach has been highly praised across the globe. According to a newspaper in 1868 in Elgin, Scotland, the whiskies of this distillery were not only preferred in the UK but in America, Australia, India, and China. Sadly, larger brands sought its highly regarded whisky for their own blends, and producers such as Grant, Johnny Walker, and Diageo limited the amount of single malt produced in favor of increasing the value and flavor of their labels. Fortunately, single expressions have been available by independent bottlers such as Gordon & Macphail and Douglas Laing’s Old Particular. Today, Diageo has several official releases, though even when you have the chance to come across one, you will pay a hefty price to taste them.