Mortlach 25 and 18

Low ABV, chill filtered, colour.

Indies available cheaper and better.

@Nozinan yes, at this point in time, I am aware that you are a very strong defender towards the positives of Indi - Whisky. I am quite in love with them myself and am very happy with all that I have been privileged to sample.

I am wondering if there is any interest out there towards a Spey Side Scotch that isn't always available in Ontario.

@SafetyPylon

It's not that I'm interested in independent bottlers. The only indie I have is a Mortlach and it was a disappointment.

Some of my favourite Scotches are not indies (A'Bunadh, Laphroaig).

The thing is, these Mortlachs are, if I am correct, watered down (sorry, "diluted to perfect historical strength"), coloured and filtered. I have read that they don't fit the typical (if there is a typical profile that can be gleaned from mainly IBs) Mortlach profile. And they are priced in a way that does not match they cost to produce or rarity of the product, nor are they competitively priced compared to similar age and presentation (except the 25 is a touch cheaper than the understrength and overpriced Macallan 25).

I would love a craft presented (CS or at least 46%, unfiltered, no colour), reasonably priced Mortlach. Diageo has in the past released this. I have a "rare malts" Mortlach from them which is about 65% ABV. I will likely never open it, because I can't get enough good examples of the distillery to prepare my palate.

So it's the way these are these are presented and priced that I find objectionable, and why I won't buy them. I'd have to taste them before I place them in the "I'd rather have a caffeine free diet coke" category, but at that price, they'd have to taste like liquid gold to consume my money.

@Nozinan I appreciate your input. I have read that these 2 bottles are part of the collection that started with the release of the Rare Old (Rare Old, 18yo, 25yo and Special Strength) and are being released in specialty designed bottles. Granted this is no reason for the price tag (after further research, it turns out that it's not just the whole "Province of Ontario" thing, which is what I'm used to when it comes to high price tags). It is unfortunate that there hasn't been much interest in these items, as I really did enjoy the 15yo. (one of the first Speyside bottles I have purchased). Being "new-ish" to this industry, I take your advice to heart. If the price was lower and it was non-colour corrected I would be more interested. (ABV and chill filtering are not things that would prevent me from buying as I would like to taste a non-chill and a chill filter side by side to see more of the technical differences)

@Nozinan speaks wisdom.

Generally speaking the impression that I have, via the various press releases about Mortlach, is that Diageo is actively attempting to "premiumize" Mortlach into a luxury label (a la Dalmore's efforts over the past 5-10 years by Mr. Paterson). The only way they do this? Fancy packaging and a deliberately high price point to make it seem like it is something more special than it really is. Fair disclosure...I have yet to taste a Mortlach, so the stuff may actually be good, but it sure won't be cheap.

...reaction to Mortlach may be part of a general turn against Diageo as they really have been jacking up the prices of their bottles over the past four years (at least here in Ontario, likely elsewhere as well). Standard Lagavulin and Talisker (especially) bottlings have gone up significantly (20-30%) in just the past 3 years or so.

Pass...

same marketing as the dalmore :P