Westport 2004/2019 Wilson & Morgan 15 years old Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 59.5%

The label says Westport and Highland, and keeps quiet about the rest. What it does reveal is who chose the cask: an Italian oenologist in Treviso, who moved this whisky into a wood that once held Marsala and then bottled it at full strength, no water added.

Expert description

Westport 2004/2019 Wilson & Morgan 15 year Marsala Finish is a Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky finished in a Marsala cask and bottled at 59.5%.

It belongs to Wilson & Morgan's Barrel Selection series and comes from one single cask, number 900095, which filled 265 bottles. The whisky was distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2019 after fifteen years in wood, and it goes into the bottle at the cask's own strength.

Westport is a brand name rather than a distillery, and the label does not say which distillery made the spirit. Wilson & Morgan has used the name for sherry-matured releases too. What the whisky sat in during its first years is not stated; at the end it was moved into a Marsala cask.

Marsala is a fortified wine from Sicily. On the back label, Wilson & Morgan describe its influence as light-handed but obvious. The nose recalls a refill sherry cask, while the palate is dry, almost austere, with nuts and pepper leading.

Wilson & Morgan is based in Treviso, north of Venice, and has bottled Scotch whisky since 1992. Founder Fabio Rossi comes from a family of wine merchants and trained as an oenologist in Conegliano, which explains the house habit of finishing malts in sherry, port and Marsala casks. The Marsala bottlings have become something of a signature.

Tasting notes

Nose

Winey, nutty and a little sour. On the first sniff it could pass for a refill sherry cask, almost traditional.

Palate

The Marsala cask shows itself clearly but with a light touch. Biscuity and very dry, almost austere, with pepper and nuts up front before a fruity, slightly sharp attack.

Finish

Strength and spice keep building all the way out, and the finish ends warm and peppery rather than soft.

Specifications

Name: Westport 2004/2019 Wilson & Morgan 15 year Marsala Finish Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 59.5%
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 59.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in Marsala cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2004
Bottled: 2019
Number of bottles: 265
Edition: Barrel Selection
EAN no.: 8033749406057

Flavour profile

Dry · Nutty · Spicy · Winey · Fruity

Did you know?

Marsala owes its strength to an Englishman. When the wine merchant John Woodhouse landed in Sicily in 1773, he added local brandy so the wine would survive the voyage home.

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Frequently asked questions about Westport 15 Year Marsala Finish

What is Westport, and which distillery is behind it?

Westport is a brand name, not a distillery, and the label does not say which distillery made the spirit. It only reads Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, so Wilson & Morgan keep the exact origin to themselves. The name also appears on their sherry-matured releases, but this 15 year old is the Marsala finish.

Is Westport 15 Year Marsala Finish worth it?

Yes, if you want a rare cask strength whisky with an unusual cask profile. Only 265 bottles came from cask 900095, Marsala is used far less often than sherry for finishing, and the cask was chosen by Wilson & Morgan themselves. If you prefer soft, sweet whiskies, it will probably taste too dry and stern.

What does a Marsala finish do to the flavour?

In this bottle it adds a dry, winey, nutty character with a slightly sour edge. Marsala is a fortified Sicilian wine, and the whisky spent the last stretch of its maturation in a cask that once held it. The influence is light but obvious, and it sits on top of the whisky's own character without taking over.

Should I add water to Westport 15 Year, and which glass suits it?

Taste it neat in a small pour first, then add water a drop at a time, because at 59.5% the alcohol is loud. Water opens up the nutty and fruity notes and softens the pepper. A Glencairn or another tapered glass gathers the aromas; see our selection of whisky glasses.

What food goes with Westport Marsala Finish?

Aged hard cheese or blue cheese, which is exactly what Wilson & Morgan recommend for their Marsala finishes. The dry, nutty style holds its own against the salt and strength of the cheese.

Is a Blended Malt worse than a Single Malt?

No. A Blended Malt combines malt whiskies from more than one distillery, with no grain whisky, and quality depends on the casks and the selection. Cask number 900095 shows that this bottle comes from a single cask, so it is both a Blended Malt and a Single Cask. See our range of Blended Malt Whisky.

Who are Wilson & Morgan?

Wilson & Morgan is an independent Italian bottler founded in 1992 by Fabio Rossi in Treviso. The house buys Scottish casks and bottles them under its own name, often as Single Cask, and is known for finishing whisky in sherry, port and Marsala casks. Rossi picks the casks himself and says to trust your palate and your instinct.