‘An Unabating Quest to Wield Flavor’: Just 350 Bottles Exist of Mortlach’s Latest Scotch Whisky
Mortlach unveiled its latest release of Midnight Malt scotch whisky. (Photo: Mortlach)
Mortlach announced the 2024 release of a scotch whisky on Tuesday with a 30-year age statement — and just 350 bottles are available. The whisky, known as “Midnight Malt,” was matured for three decades in three different seasoned barrels: Bordeaux wine, Calvados and Guatemalan rum casks.
It was refined in custom-made quarter casks, and the process was guided under the stewardship of Diageo’s Dr. Craig Wilson. Mortlach’s Midnight Malt is bottled at 49.8% ABV. Mortlach hosts a suggested retail price of $5,300 and 40 bottles are available in the United States.
“There is an art and science to the creation of whisky, born of an unabating quest to wield flavor — a journey that is complex, evolving into unknown directions, only to finally reveal itself as the patient labor of a visionary at work,” Wilson said in the news release.
Midnight Malt is intended to be enjoyed as the sun sets and the day transitions into night, according to the Diageo-owned brand. Mortlach describes the whisky as possessing a “rich” and “deep” flavors, with a blend of “peppery spice, orchard fruits and chocolate.”
To celebrate the release, Mortlach worked with the artist Suchi Reddy to create a whisky coaster and incense holder featuring a curated fragrance. The incense holder is meant to be paired with a glass of Midnight Malt to “elevate the senses.”
Reddy is an Indian-American architect and artist who founded Reddymade. The New York brand specializes in art and architecture, specializing in an “experience-oriented approach” to art.
Mortlach — a Speyside Brand With 200 Years of Whisky History
Mortlach was founded in 1823 on the site of an illegal distillery in Speyside. The brand perfected the 2.81 distillation process, which it still uses on-site today, according to Mortlach.
Mortlach claims that the 2.81 process in conjunction with worm tub condensers helps the final distillate achieve a thick and bold profile.
In 1923, Mortlach was purchased by John Walker & Sons before it made its way to Diageo’s portfolio.
Follow The Daily Pour:
About The Daily Pour
Founded by Dan Abrams, The Daily Pour is the ultimate drinking guide for the modern consumer, covering spirits, non-alcoholic and hemp beverages. With its unique combination of cross-category coverage and signature rating system that aggregates reviews from trusted critics across the internet, The Daily Pour sets the standard as the leading authority in helping consumers discover, compare and enjoy the best of today's evolving drinks landscape.
