1997 Gordon & Macphail Miltonduff Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
Speyside, Highlands,
SCOTLAND
$250. 00
Bottle
$3000.00 Dozen
ABV: 58.8%
A Miltonduff from a first-fill sherry butt, distilled in 1997 and bottled in September 2017 at natural strength.
Other reviews... Miltonduff or Milton-Duff used to be a bigger name in the 1970s and 1980s, in Italy at least, than it is today. The Italians used to sometimes bottle it as ‘Pluscarden Valley’, but some say they could also have had other distillates under that moniker. Which, between us, I doubt, since Miltonduff is actually located on the site of the ancient mill of Pluscarden Abbey...
Colour: gold. Nose: indeed it is a little hard after the sumptuous Sestante (which was probably G&M stock anyway). Rather a lot of leather, walnuts, tobacco, dried beef (jerky), also caraway and cloves, burnt cake, black tea... It’s a rather dry sherry so far. With water: pipe tobacco, a little tar, books, chocolate, molasses... A wee soapiness as well, which happens when you add water to ex-sherry whiskies. Mouth (neat): big, rather good, on pine sap and walnuts at first, chewing your cigar, sucking your pencil... Then chocolate and raw coffee beans. A curious feeling of peat smoke again, hidden in the background... Some green pepper, cabernet... With water: good, or even better. Chestnut purée and honey, roasted nuts, caramel, raisins/rum/chocolate... It’s excellent that it would have become sweeter and more candied once reduced. Finish: rather long, very cake-y. Chocolate pie and honey sauce. Comments: this baby’s accomplished more than mere survival after the stunning Pluscarden! Not that we were having doubts... 58.8% Alc./Vol. 86 points - whiskyfun.com Notes from G&M... Aroma: Vibrant festive spices mingle with toasted oak and cocoa powder. Hints of grapefruit develop and lead to delicate chamomile floral notes. Taste: Intense spice initially followed by toasted oak, chocolate, and orange marmalade flavours. Underlying liquorice comes to the fore on the finish. Aroma with Water: Rich vanilla and fruitcake aromas lead to dried cherry and stewed raisin notes. Underlying spices accompany milk chocolate and toasted oak. Taste with Water: Creamy and sweet followed by chilli chocolate flavours. Cinnamon and clove mingle with fresh citrus peel and muted liquorice. A subtle menthol edge. Finish: Long and creamy with lingering spice.
Colour: gold. Nose: indeed it is a little hard after the sumptuous Sestante (which was probably G&M stock anyway). Rather a lot of leather, walnuts, tobacco, dried beef (jerky), also caraway and cloves, burnt cake, black tea... It’s a rather dry sherry so far. With water: pipe tobacco, a little tar, books, chocolate, molasses... A wee soapiness as well, which happens when you add water to ex-sherry whiskies. Mouth (neat): big, rather good, on pine sap and walnuts at first, chewing your cigar, sucking your pencil... Then chocolate and raw coffee beans. A curious feeling of peat smoke again, hidden in the background... Some green pepper, cabernet... With water: good, or even better. Chestnut purée and honey, roasted nuts, caramel, raisins/rum/chocolate... It’s excellent that it would have become sweeter and more candied once reduced. Finish: rather long, very cake-y. Chocolate pie and honey sauce. Comments: this baby’s accomplished more than mere survival after the stunning Pluscarden! Not that we were having doubts... 58.8% Alc./Vol. 86 points - whiskyfun.com Notes from G&M... Aroma: Vibrant festive spices mingle with toasted oak and cocoa powder. Hints of grapefruit develop and lead to delicate chamomile floral notes. Taste: Intense spice initially followed by toasted oak, chocolate, and orange marmalade flavours. Underlying liquorice comes to the fore on the finish. Aroma with Water: Rich vanilla and fruitcake aromas lead to dried cherry and stewed raisin notes. Underlying spices accompany milk chocolate and toasted oak. Taste with Water: Creamy and sweet followed by chilli chocolate flavours. Cinnamon and clove mingle with fresh citrus peel and muted liquorice. A subtle menthol edge. Finish: Long and creamy with lingering spice.