Whisky: Speyside v Highland?!
Whisky: Speyside v Highland?
Which of these would you prefer? They are both sherry finish single malts.
Speyside
Mortlach 1992 (14YO) 58.3%
Single cask (sherry butt)
Colour: like strong tea
Nose: mild toffee
Taste: sweet toffee and smooth finish. No water required.
Highland
Old Pultney 1990 (15YO) 59.0%
Single cask (first fill sherry butt)
Colour: very dark brown
Nose: toffee, liquorice and raisins
Taste: very sweet toffee, smooth on the palate and slightly fiery on the way down but no need to add water.
3 weeks ago
Sauce Monster: You're right that Speyside is a part of the Highlands geographically, although it is a distint whisky region having about half of all the distilleries in Scotland along the River Spey and tributeries.
3 weeks ago
Charlie: You're right, some people would need water but they should water to taste adding no more than half a nip to bring the alcohol level down to around 40% I usually prefer water at room temperature so that it doesn't hide the taste of the whisky.
3 weeks ago
Karoline: I stand corrected on the finish, thank you. :-) The Mortlach was bottled by Cadenheads and the Old Pultney by Gordon MacPhail. Both are excellent whiskies and Although I know what you mean about G MacPhail, but this is certainly one of their better bottlings if you like a heavily sherried malt.
Answers:
3 weeks ago
Sauce Monster: You're right that Speyside is a part of the Highlands geographically, although it is a distint whisky region having about half of all the distilleries in Scotland along the River Spey and tributeries.
3 weeks ago
Charlie: You're right, some people would need water but they should water to taste adding no more than half a nip to bring the alcohol level down to around 40% I usually prefer water at room temperature so that it doesn't hide the taste of the whisky.
3 weeks ago
Karoline: I stand corrected on the finish, thank you. :-) The Mortlach was bottled by Cadenheads and the Old Pultney by Gordon MacPhail. Both are excellent whiskies and Although I know what you mean about G MacPhail, but this is certainly one of their better bottlings if you like a heavily sherried malt.
I would prefer the Highland every time.
I'm looking....but I cant see the free samples anywhere!
Can i no just hae a beer?
whisky never tastes like toffee.
Otherwise, I really like the the Laphroaig, but since that is not an answer to your question, I am going to say number 2, it has a higher alcohol content.
have to choose the highland.
you shouldn't be having any after your shennanigans last night, LMAO
I think I 'd rather the Highland. If its sweet with a bit of fire I know I'll like it!
I'll go with the Mortlach. Never tried the sherry finish.
BTW, Speyside is Highland, a sub-district, you knew that.
Highland
Although you state that no water may be required, for those who have yet to try cask strength whiskies, I would recommend at least the same again of chilled water (nae ice). That aside I would go for the Mortlach, I have had the pleasure to try both whiskies (although not these particular vintages), and I prefer the Mortlach for overall roundness.
My favourite though would be Ardbeg, and if you want to wing some of it my way, take yourself on.
First off, they are both sherry matured single malts. Sherry finished malts have spent most of their life in a bourbon cask and are then transferred to sherry casks for a short period of time. Sherry finished malts taste like, well, sherry and sherry matured ones take on that lovely fruity toffee/raisin character.
Who bottled them? Some bottlers like SMWS, Adelphi, and Old Malt Cask have excellent reputations, while Gordon & MacPhail has been in a resting on their laurels phase for a while now.
Both distilleries have a hit and miss kind of reputation, so I would read up on them at maltmaniacs.org before purchasing.
All single cask bottlings are unique and interesting, but not all of them are good.
Highland (Highland Park)
Over priced but very nice. Just finished a 18YO bottle.
Highland sets the standard for others to follow.