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.