Miltonduff has always been a distillery that I’ve retained a soft spot for and while the vast majority of the distillery’s production is destined to be used for blending purposes (especially in the case of Ballantine’s), the single malt expressions which have been released over the years tend to showcase the quality of the distillate.
This week’s review focuses on an expression of Miltonduff which was distilled in 1969, matured for 41 years in sherry casks before being bottled at a standard abv of 43% by independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail for their Distillery Labels range.
So, let’s jump right into the review!
Miltonduff 1969 41 Years Old (Bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, Distillery Labels Range, 43% abv)
Colour: Rosewood
Nose: Initial entry presents dark, brooding and intense sherry hints coupled with acetone and red fruits. The sherry is very much in the old style that you simply can’t find these days and it is backed by nutmeg, allspice, oak, black pepper and surprisingly, iodine. (22/25)
Palate: Initial entry presents more of that dark, brooding and intense sherry richness followed by some demerara sugar and slight hints of acetone. The sherry is rather restrained and not as sweet on the palate as when compared to the nose. Nutmeg and allspice emerge fairly soon after and there is a hint of smoke and vanilla in the mix. Slightly tannic notes emerge later on to act as a counterpoint to the red fruits. (23/25)
Finish: Medium to long on the finish, with the red fruits, dense sherry, oak and demerara sugar notes being most dominant. There is a hint of smoke which lingers in the background and helps to bring things to a close. (22/25)
Balance: A rather interesting dram which is fairly well-balanced. Starts off big and full-bodied but does recede and fade over time from rich and sweet to spicy and drying. The mouthfeel was initially oily in nature but the wood spices did account for the dryness towards the end. (21/25)
Rating: 88/100
This expression of Miltonduff was savoured during one of my many visits to The Auld Alliance and while I’m unsure if there’s any left, I’d definitely recommend it to those who are looking for something different.
Until the next review, have a wonderful week ahead.
Slainte!
Brendan
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