MacDuff 12 Year SMWS 6.34 “Boundless intemperance”
Whisky : MacDuff 12 Year SMWS 6.34 “Boundless intemperance”
Country/Region : Scotland/Speyside
ABV : 58.6%
Cask : Refill Ex-bourbon Hogshead
Age : 12 Years (Distilled 29 Aug. 2006)
Nose : Subtle aroma of tropical flower beds, mellow fruits, and creamy starch. Opens up with layers of lemon custard, citrusy gummy bears, bamboo baskets, melon, and berries.
Palate : Medium body with a mellow flavor profile and nice structure. Creamy nutty almond milk, apple juice, and honey-lemon drops. Sugary pastries decorated with ripe berries and tropical fruit curd. Floral notes come on the end along with a tannic dryness almost like raw almonds.
Finish : Medium length finish that gradually lengthens; pastries, honey, jelly.
Score : 6
Mental Image : Bake Sale Guava Bars
Something Better : Westland Reverie Fig. 1 (similar fruit curd/pastry, more tropical, longer finish)
Something Similar : Michel Couvreur Overaged (similar almond/pastries, less sharp fruit)
Notes : A simple Speyside with a pleasant profile. Probably not a lot more to say about this MacDuff. It was nice, but not really the kind of flavor profile to which I gravitate. There was nothing particularly distinct about it, it was a fine easy sipper that showcased a fruity malt without getting lost in any heavy cask influence. It felt a bit young as it definitely had a spirited quality, though considering it already had good tannic structure and body, I am not sure more time in the cask would have been to its benefit.
It is the kind of dram I reach for on a warm summer evening when I just want something I do not need to think about a whole lot. If you like simple fruity Speyside drams, then this would be right up your alley.
