Miltonduff 31 Years Old 1981 72.36 Holy moly! (44.6%, SMWS, Refill Bourbon HH, 51 Bottles, 2013)

• Speyside single malt scotch whisky
• 44.6% ABV, £169
• Score: 91/100

What they say:

Cask No. 72.36

Holy moly! – passion-fruit and kiwi on polished oak – then orange syrup, raspberry tarts, crystallised ginger and toffee, but this was a complex dram and the nose also held sand dunes, railways sleepers, leather armchairs and engine shops. The palate was mouth-watering and friendly – caramel, crème brûlée, tropical fruits, wine gums, red jelly babies and mint humbugs – we knew instinctively it didn’t need water – yet we tried it – and the nose developed pink cup-cakes, icing sugar and marshmallows – very homely. The palate seemed to have absolutely everything – cherry lips, monkey’s blood, Old English spangles, honey-nut cornflakes, pain au chocolat and ash – mmm!

Drinking tip: To share with special friends – if you don’t have any handy, line up your teddy bears and have a wee picnic.

Date Distilled: 3 November 1981 Colour: Spun sugar Age: 31 years Flavour : Spicy & sweet Cask Type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead Whisky Region: Speyside Lossie 

Outturn: 51 bottles

What I say:

Another sample courtesy of Tom from Toms Whisky Reviews, this one is from Miltonduff distillery in Speyside (SMWS Distillery #72)

Colour:

Dark amber gold (11/20), medium tears

Nose:

Sweet, sherbet, fizzy fruits, acetone, nail polish remover, woody, ketone, pear drops, aromatic, pear, apple, peach, beauty salon, lotions and potions, light wood polish, beeswax, xylenols, reminiscent of canoe construction, curing resin, must and dusty, almond croissants

Taste:

Toffee apples, caramel, peach skin, woody oak, mouth coating, tempered oaky sweetness, brown sugar, apple sauce and jam, some honey and faint cereal notes, mostly getting stewed fruits and oak wood

Finish:

Medium long, cherry lips, woody, orchard fruits, antique polished oak, hints of fixative and acetone, drying

Overall:

A beautiful single cask example with plenty of aged oak wood and tempered sweetness of stewed fruits.