Mortlach 25 Year, Le Gus’t ‘Selection XXV

Nose : Fruit punch, herbal spice, and old papers.  A tantalizingly odd fruit punch came to mind right away with notes of tart lingonberry jam, honeycrisp apples, and watermelon rinds.  Herbal spices lingered in the background with coriander and something approaching dill; the spice led into notes of leather, burning candles, hot wax, and old papers.  It was the smell of an archival reading room with cartons of old papers and paraphernalia scattered on sturdy oak tables.

Palate : Medium bodied with a buttery texture and notes of fruit, herbs, and tropical florals.  Berry notes tumbled across the palate: blackberries, blue berries, boysenberries, before flowery notes of hibiscus and exotic pomegranate emerged.  The back end was strikingly herbal with thistle, menthol, anise, and a delicate white tea.

Finish :  Lingering sweet berries and subtle dry cinnamon.