2008 Cadenheads Small Batch Miltonduff 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

A 2008 distillation, bottled way back in 2019 by Cadenheads, but only just landed in Australia. Drawn from four x-Bourbon hogsheads and bottled at natural strength it's described as a bit of a fruit bomb. Miltonduff is another distillery in Pernod Ricard's growing portfolio with a style that tends towards a fresh, citrusy distillate that goes into the Ballantine's blends. 1116 bottles are on offer. As with all Cadenhead Small Batch expressions, the whisky is non-chill filtered with no added colouring.

Other reviews... This one from 4 casks, so singularities may have been erased this time. Colour: white wine. Nose: the AC was clearly superior, this is rather a fruity, easy, syrupy one. Sugarcane, green bananas, ripe plums, pancake syrup… With water: whiffs of fruity ale now. Sweet dough, brioche from this morning, apple peel… Mouth (neat): in a way it is spectacular. A true fruit bomb, full of very ripe plums, bananas and pineapples. It is almost some liqueur, you would almost believe someone’s added a lot of muscovado sugar, which was obviously not the case. Unless, unless… I am joking. With water: still sweet, but with fine herbal notes, peelings, some hay… Finish: medium, thick and syrupy. Is it possible to make some liqueur out of bamboo shoots? More sweet ale in the aftertaste, IPA… Comments: I still prefer Cadenhead’s single cask, by far, but this one really doesn’t cheat either. 85 points - whiskyfun.com

Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Crisp and dry, Portuguese tarts, vanilla pods and white chocolate. Palate: Faint lime pickle, coconut, whole ginger and olive oil. Green apple skins, hint of soya sauce with mint and fennel. Finish: Cappuccino, almond butter, sweetcorn and growing creaminess. Very refreshing.