Whisky: Millburn 21 Year (1983), SMWS 87.8 “Wakens the taste buds”

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 53.7%

Cask: Hogshead

Age: 21 Years (Distilled Dec. 1983, Bottled Sept. 2005)

Nose: Acrylic paint, modeling clay, overripe peaches, berry preserves, wood glue, hints of artificial peppermint and bubble gum.

Palate: Medium-bodied, plywood and plastic-PVC, smog machines, strawberry soda, cola, hints of orange, lemon, and lime, a touch of guava and plastic, hibiscus tea.

Finish: Medium to long, drying, mellow with sawdust, guava, and smog machines.

Score: 8

Mental Image: Ben Franklin Craft Store

Narrative & Notes: The aroma had me mentally walking into an arts and craft supply store where the scent of acrylic paint, modeling clay, wood glue, sawdust, PVC, and plastic filled the air. A touch perfumey at times with overripe peaches and jammy berries— blueberry and strawberry preserves. Hints of artificial peppermint and bubble gum occasionally appeared between balsa wood and PVC. Medium-bodied, the flavor profile took me from the art store to laser tag with smog machines, plywood or PVC obstacles, and a suicide soda. Strawberry and cola arrived with hints of orange, lemon, lime, and licorice between plastic and plywood. Sugary otter pops developed with more time; vanilla, raspberry, and guava with a touch of the plastic tube they came in; hibiscus tea lingered at the end. The finish was medium to long, drying, and mellow with sawdust, guava, and smog machines.

My first Millburn, and what an introduction to the distillery! This was absolutely overloaded with nostalgia— the craft store and the laser tag emporium are two places I knew well growing up. Okay, I never played laser as much as I wanted, I pretty much only got to go when it was someone’s birthday party, but I loved every minute of it. I could close my eyes while sipping this whisky and swear I was back on the battlefield with the taste of those artificial smoke-smog machines infusing the air. The collision of fruit and cola reminded me of a suicide soda— when you mix a little bit of everything on the soda machine. A friend recalled more specific memories of eating Otter Pops with the slight taste of plastic coming through; it has been many years since I have downed one of those icy treats, but I could absolutely see it.

Overall, a weird whisky, but I enjoyed it.

Image credit: (bottle) Whisky Base, (distillery) Whisky Antique