Up the Coast

After a few hectic days in the city l was off, up the coast, around 5 hours from Manila, North, and a place called La Union (pronounced la onion). Not the greatest of drives or the most scenic so I try to travel around 3am, sleeping most of the way.

This coastline is not the best environment to sip a dram and it’s a far cry from Scotland, at least in November there’s a cool breeze in the evenings.

Havin a wee dram in the heat is not as stupid as you may think; I read an article on bourbon drinkers and where it comes from in the US and it says that in the south they know a thing or two about shirt-sticking weather. Which is true although most or the majority fill it with ice.

Therefore when I’m in the ppines I tend to drink less Malts due to the climate opting for gallons of water and copious amounts of cocktails loaded with citrus, sugar and blocks of ice. Especially when I’m on the beach or at the pool with my eskie. Pulling out a big peat monster is not the thing to do, best left for the cooler climates. Unless you have it in a cocktail……..but we will leave that for another time.

What's critical in this heat is keeping hydrated……… yes Mum, I now know that was not nagging but good solid advice.

So in the tropics I keep my wee drams for the cooler evenings, as a diehard Malt drinker I tend to go for younger expressions from my favorite distilleries, which give notes of fruits especially sour apples, fresh citrus and caramel. Oak barrel expressions tend to be refreshing and lighter than say sherry butts (Glendronach or Macallan), talking about Macallan the fine Oak would also suite the climate (next trip I’ll give it a try).

What…

Mortlach 1988 18 Year Old bottled by Murray McDavid

Location…

SPEYSIDE

Where…

Ahh! The picture tells it all. This was taken on my second night.

Why…

I chose this dram for it lightness.

Tasting…

Nose: I smell apple pie, my grandmothers to be exact, vanilla, and a little wood at the back.

Taste: you taste the oak wood straight away but its subtle not harsh, as it hits the tongue the spice takes over then mellow, giving you floral honey.

Finish: vanilla, sugared candy and later fruity – blackberries.

Comments: Mortlach (Pronounced: MORT-lack)  is in Dufftown along with some famous boys like Glenfiddich and Balvenie. Bottled at 55.3% ABV you need a drop of water in this one, this is by far a fine whisky, bottled by a great bottler, not many distillery bottles out there as Mortlach malt whisky is an important component of the Johnnie Walker Black Label blend.

Sad.

Get it…

This one I managed to get a couple of bottles from the guys at fine vintage, there the boys to contact here in Hong Kong, they have a good selection, note they don’t deliver 1 bottle you need to have at least 6, can be mixed labels.