I have had precious few encounters with Millburn, a distillery that a friend in our online whisky group absolutely adores. When you have only encountered a distillery a couple of times, it is hard to know when a bottle is particularly characteristic for the distillery; so far Millburn often reminds me of backyard gardens and sheds, something it shared with Glen Esk. Anyway, onto this Rare Malts release, a whisky I initially enjoyed as part of our online whisky group’s 2024 Holiday Advent calendar.

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Whisky: Millburn 18 Year (1975) Rare Malts

Country/Region: Scotland/Highlands

ABV: 58.9%

Cask: Oak

Age: 18 Years (Distilled 1975, Bottled 1995)

Notes: Old rusted metal cans and leather gloves sat among broken clay pots and garden tools— the aroma was musty like the backyard shed of a house in the tropics with resinous wood and dirty shop rags. Potted herbs on a back patio of worn bricks gradually released sweeter and maltier notions of vanilla extract, molasses, and gingersnap cookies. Medium-bodied and spirited, mellow tobacco smoke drew the flavor profile back to the musty shed with herbs in earthen clay pots, dirty shop rags, and a bicycle in need of repair. It was all very backyard and musty with occasional hints of not quite ripe tropical fruits and soot. Peppery toward the end with more old wood and a hint of glue. The finish was long and slightly metallic with a touch of pepper, earth, and smoke.

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Score: 7-8 (86)

Mental Image: Marie Kondo in Grandpa’s Shed

Narrative & Notes: The flavors were delicious with a constant barrage of musty earth, metal, and herbal notes accented by the occasional forays of vanilla and fruit. The wife found the fruit and herbs akin to an artificial cherry, almost cough syrup, but also she thought the whisky unusual enough to appreciate. I wished the flavors had more clarity, as they sometimes felt a bit muddled, as if they were tripping over one another, especially when the spirited quality typical of these Rare Malts releases asserted itself.

Overall, encountering these long shuttered distilleries is always a treat— I am not sure I ended up feeling as though this was worth the chase, though it was very good, but I am glad I was able to share the experience with friends.