
July 14, 2026

Bastille!
At first, I thought we might sample some French whiskies today, as we have quite a few waiting to be opened while it is our national day (Bastille Day). On the other hand, while there is certainly nothing wrong with taking pride in one's country, if there is one thing I find difficult to claim any credit for, it is simply having been born somewhere. As one of our national singers, Maxime Le Forestier, put it: “To be born somewhere, for the one who is born, is always a matter of chance.”

So, instead, we'll be enjoying two or three Scottish malts, with a thought for the Auld Alliance of 1295, which, according to some historians, was never formally brought to an end by any treaty, even though it appears to be regarded by all parties as having just lapsed in practice.

The Time Warp Sessions,
today Miltonduff 2006 to 1966

Forty years indeed. We have a great many Miltonduffs in the pipeline, but today we wanted to pit a recent independent bottling, chosen almost at random, against an older version bottled under another name, one whose identity has long been the subject of speculation and debate. To put it simply, is Pluscarden, and its various incarnations, really always Miltonduff as far as independent bottlings are concerned?

After all, the distillery stands on the site of the former Pluscarden Abbey, but the only way to (try to) be sure is to find out in the glass. To begin with, then, a relatively recent indie, picked entirely at random from among dozens... (A not-so-subtle hint at Bastille Day in the picture).

Miltonduff 16 yo 2006/2022 (49.6%, Sansibar, Finest Whisky Berlin, bourbon, 351 bottles)

Ah, Sansibar, chance does work in mysterious ways, even if this version is already from four years ago, or nearly. Never mind… Colour: full gold. Nose: this is one of those ex-bourbon casks that somehow display notes of dry sherry, it does happen from time to time. The opposite happens too, for that matter. In any case, we find delicate hints of sherry vinegar at first, followed by a rich, sturdy ale laced with honey and vanilla. Then come wonderfully aromatic dried figs. I'm not entirely sure I would have guessed ‘bourbon’. Mouth: once again, it is remarkably aromatic, rich and almost jammy, with orange zests, candied kumquats, even a touch of cognac, pink peppercorns and peaches in syrup. I do like this Miltonduff very much, it keeps leading you gently astray, entirely to your delight. Finish: long, following much the same lines, with the spices becoming rather more assertive, as they so often do. Allspice, a touch of ginger, then a light note of pipe tobacco. Comments: disconcerting, yet excellent. Perfect for catching your friends out in a blind tasting, should that happen to be your plan.
SGP:651 - 87 points.

Pluscarden 19 yo 1974 (62.3%, The Whisky Connoisseur, cask #14018, +/-1993)

Once again, this incredible series by Arthur JA Bell, from which we've already tasted a few marvels, along with a handful of rather odder versions too. We have several more Pluscardens waiting in the wings, including some older Sestantes, but they'll come later. Chi va piano, va sano. Colour: gold. Nose: utterly focused on fresh barley, earth, the first summer rain and a fine fruit loaf, with pear and walnuts, for example. The alcohol isn't quite as fiery as expected at this stage, although we can imagine that almost thirty years in bottle may have rounded it off a little. With water: delicate floral touches, faded rose in particular, alongside apricots and a faint heavy IPA character. Mouth (neat): imagine pear compote with cinnamon. It may sound simple, but it is utterly beautiful. With water: the citrus fruits move firmly to the forefront, led by pink grapefruit, before this increasingly zesty citrus profile just takes over. Lovely freshness throughout. Finish: long, with the fruit loaf returning alongside cinnamon and hoppy notes. Comments: these Miltonduffs/Pluscardens are generally excellent, and this is simply further proof.
SGP:551 - 90 points.

Well, we simply couldn't resist dipping a little further back in terms of vintage, but we promise, this is where we'll stop.

Milton Duff 22 yo 1966/1988 (43%, Sestante, sherry wood)

Many old Miltonduff, or rather Milton Duff bottlings by Sestante were released under the Pluscarden Valley name, but that isn't the case here, for reasons I’m simply not aware of. Unless I’m all wrong once more. In any case the Pluscarden Valley versions were sublime, let that be known! These babies were also frequently offered in crystal decanters of... shall we say, rather questionable taste. They did contain exactly the same whiskies, though. But always favour the bottles if the fill levels are sound, they stand the test of time much better, especially as so many of those decanters were stored on their sides, tucked away in presentation boxes lined, to varying degrees, with silk, velvet or felt. It is never a good idea to keep a spirit lying on its side for decades. Colour: light gold. Nose: the profile is extremely close to that of the 1974 at first, but then magnificent candied citrus fruits emerge, alongside touches of fir bud liqueur. A magnificent nose, displaying remarkable freshness. Mouth: an old Madeira, probably a Sercial, perhaps even a Terrantez, with tobacco and citrus leading the charge. There is a lovely maritime and earthy side, together with rather obvious nods towards Macallans from the same era. Finish: admittedly not immense, but it wanders into earthy territory in the most elegant fashion. Touches of very dark chocolate. Comments: just as with the Macallans of the period, the 43% vol. presents no problem whatsoever. Besides, 1966 was a truly great vintage, for reasons I cannot really explain, since the very notion of vintage in whisky makes rather little sense, I mean technically and agriculturally. Even so, Bowmore, Lochside, Springbank, Laphroaig and several others all lend weight to that view. And so does Miltonduff.
SGP:551 - 91 points.

P.S. As you most probably know, Milton Duff and Milton are not the same thing at all. Milton was the former name of Strathisla until 1951.

Check the index of all Miltonduff we've tasted

The Time Warp Sessions, today Miltonduff 2006 to 1966

The Time Warp Sessions,
today Miltonduff 2006 to 1966