After the delightful Aultmore10 year, we moved on to Miltonduff. A key element in Ballentine’s blend, increasingly, we see more and more Miltonduff standing on its own as a single malt. I’ve generally found my experience with Miltonduff positive – charming, elegant yet with enough substance to not be a total lightweight.

As for this ex-sherry expression? After twice sampling it at whisky shows (Singapore 2018, Paris 2022), I simply HAD to have a full bottle to experience at leisure!

So what did we think this summer in Nurnberg?

Miltonduff 10 year 43% 

• Colour – Tawny (1.4)
• Nose – Wow! Stewed fruits, dates, plums, Christmas pudding, sweet spices, rum raisins, over time a lovely marshmallow sweetness
• Palate – What a delightful dry sherry! Some spice, dark fruits, creamy cocoa, a special cake, dry wood
• Finish – Toffee, honey… over time shifting to a lovely honeyed citrus orange finish
• Water – At 43% it may seem counter-intuitive to add, however, it really boosts the creamy caramel and treacle quality, amps up the sweet spices, goes from stewed fruits to juicy tropical fruits, dry to fresh wood

So wonderfully smooth, balanced with a truly lovely mouthfeel. Whilst a bit “dry” without water, a few drops of water transformed it.

For those newer to whisky tasting, the impact of just a little water was a revelation! How could just a few drops of water make such a difference? Yet it does!

Overall we were rather pleased with this one – most enjoyable! The more time in the glass, the more it delighted – a delicious dessert in a glass!

What do the good folks over at Gordon & Macphail have to say about this expression?

Dry sherry aromas mingle with stewed raisin and roasted hazelnut, complemented by fresh citrus edge.

Creamy milk chocolate and orange zest flavours lead to spiced stewed fruits.

The finish is fruity with lingering citrus.

All in all, a great start to an evening exploring Gordon and MacPhail’s Discovery range.

Our evening explored a quartet from Gordon & Macphail’s Discovery series.

• Green (ex-bourbon): Aultmore 10 year 43% 
• Purple (ex-sherry): Miltonduff 10 year 43% 
• Purple (ex-sherry): Glenrothes 11 year 43% 
• Grey (peat): Caol Ila 13 year 43% 

And what about other explorations of Miltonduff? Here are some tastings:

• Miltonduff 9 year 58.3% (Chorlton)
• Miltonduff 10 year 43% (G&MP)
• Miltonduff 10 year 43% (G&MP Discovery)
• Miltonduff 11 year 1st fill bourbon 62% (Chorlton)
• Miltonduff 11 year (Feb 1995 – Oct 2015) Bourbon Hogshead 59.5% (WW8) WLE
• Miltonduff 21 year (1995/2016) 45.8% (TSC)

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