In terms of overall enthusiasm before the tasting, this Miltonduff was the odd duck— there were plenty of people excited for old Bladnoch and Tormore, the fans of Fettercairn, and the peat monsters waiting for the Isle of Harris. Miltonduff on the other hand has no core fandom in our whisky group, at least none that I am aware of, and I imagine quite a few people mix it up with Macduff (I know I do). The distillery sits with Glenburgie and Glentauchers as core components of the Chivas blending portfolio, though I have encountered it with far less frequently than the other two. With such anonymity, the whisky was set up to deliver some surprises!

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Whisky: Miltonduff 29 Year (1995), SMWS 72.125 “Blossom reverie”

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 49.1%

Cask: Refill Bourbon Hogshead

Age: 29 Year (Distilled 2 Aug. 1995)

Notes: Cooked starches and spun sugars collided with baked Japanese sweet potatoes and crème brûlée.  Hints of cotton candy melted fast as cinnamon and brown sugar oatmeal developed into buttery brioche, oatmeal cookies, sweetened granola, dried apples, sliced almonds, and marshmallows. Cooked starches and creamy marshmallow— well it was Thanksgiving dinner with candied yams! Medium-bodied and creamy, more powdered milk than straight cream, the flavor profile was fatty, fruity, and salty with an herbal finale. Sunflower seeds and pine nuts offered fat and salt, while dried apple and tangerine slices provided the fruit. Herbal at the end with celery seed, fennel, and mustard seed— a brine for pickling kept in a musty wooden larder next to toffee and caramel hard candies. The finish was long and woody with old library books and a touch of binding glue.

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Score: 8 (88)

Mental Image: Chaos in the Thanksgiving Kitchen

Conclusion: This had a cacophony of contrasting flavors as the aroma, palate, and finish did not neatly line up, or ever bring the experience full circle— it was like listening to a friend keep getting side tracked while telling a story, only you don’t interrupt because even the digressions are so interesting you forget the whole point. The flavors did not harmonize, but neither did they clash. 

Considering just how few Miltonduff I have ever tried, I have no idea how to gauge whether this was fairly typical, or something altogether a bit odd— with single casks and SMWS you never know. Whether typical or not, I enjoyed this quite a bit as it took me on a journey, even if it felt a bit incomplete. Overall, remarkable whisky; most of the attendees at the local tasting rated it as number two or three on night— a good showing considering the strength of the lineup.