Miltonduff 32 Years Old 1981 Cask 5066

53.1% ABV, £148.71 for 70cl available from Master of Malt

Score: 84/100

What they say:

A single cask #5066 from Miltonduff distillery bottled by Adelphi. Distilled in 1981 and bottled 2013 for 32 year maturation, producing 247 bottle at outturn

What I say:

I couldn’t resist this Miltonduff from Adelphi when I saw it. My previous encounters of whiskies from this distillery had left a very good impression. Miltonduff output usually goes towards Ballantines blends, leaving little for bottling as single malt.

Colour:

Straw gold

Nose:

Fruity, peaches and melon, greengages, like walking into a fresh fruit shop, citric and acidic, sharp lemon juice, lemon meringue pie, pastry, vanilla custard and fresh linen (aired laundry?)

Taste:

Fruity, blossom honey, white pepper spice, vanilla custard and tropical fruit salad, mellows into a grapey/winey flavour, lemongrass almost like a white wine spritzer

Finish:

Long spirity spice, oak wood, fruity melon and apples

Overall:

A good complex whisky, plenty of fruit influence and the long maturation gives a woody and herbal lemongrass kick to it. Some interesting and unusual tropical fruit flavours going on which are more easily identified with a little drop of water, which at 53.1% ABV you can easily afford to add. Drinkable at cask strength and slightly reminiscent of the Tomatin 30 year old expression, if you like this older/more matured style then you will enjoy this one very much.