Millburn 35 Year Old 1969 Rare Malts Selection

This Millburn 1969 is one of the few semi official bottlings from this closed distillery. First they turned it into a Beefeater restaurant (just like they did with Rosebank), then it was converted into a Premier Inn motel. So this is a bit of liquid history. And a distillate from before I was born, which is always a bit special.

Ooh, what is this? This is totally different from any other Millburn I have nosed before. While it starts off with a little cardboard edge, it is followed by a full basket of very ripe fruits. Apple, pear, banana, peach. Unripe pineapple. Dried grasses. Vanille and ginger. Green garden herbs! Think parsley, thym and cresson. Mint. Physalis! What? The golden cherry, you know. Great. And a wonderful trace of smoke. Ah, they do not make this whisky like that anymore (doh, the distillery closed in 1985!).

Sturdy body, spicy attack, but the oak is perfectly dosed. Not all the fruit returns, but most. Some are caramelized, other overripe. Oranges that have started to rot (sounds terrible, tastes great). Fruit tea. The smoke really gives it depth. This is a grand whisky.

The finish is tremendously long, very peppery and simply delicious.

Impressive Millburn that has become a bit unaffordable of late. But if you get a chance to try it, do not let it pass you by.

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