Mortlach 21 yo 1957 / 1978 Cadenhead dumpy 80 proof vs Mortlach 22 yo  1969 / 1969 Cadenhead dumpy 50.5%

Mortlach 21 yo 1957 / 1978 Cadenhead dumpy 80 proof

Aha. An ‘old’ nose if there was ever one. Meaning dried chrysanthemum and dried out herbal infusions, lubricants and cold tools. Old honey, grime and lumps of coal. Quite tell-tale really. Dried out wax, brittle resins and no meatiness either. Not given up the ghost yet – still verbose on the tongue. I like to imagine this is what a speyside whisky would have tasted half a century ago. 88 pts

Mortlach 22 yo  1969 / 1991 Cadenhead dumpy 50.5%

A big whisky, very complex. More wood influence, here in the shape of smoky caramel, oily and spiced. Rubbing oil, linseed oil, all sorts of deep and heavy oils. Teaspoon of bovril, camphor, dried eucalyptus, incense sticks, pine wood, dried leaves and pinecones. Touches of sage and bark. Black earth, soot, grime, hot machines. Touches of ash and sooty stains. Wow, a lot going on in this multilayered wonder of a whisky. 90 pts