Zuidam 5 Year Old 2013 Peated PX

Millstone does not appear on my radar very often, to be honest. This is only my third! Anyway, this Dutch whisky is peated and matured on a first fill PX cask. It was bottled by Patrick and his team for the ‘Millstone Fanbase’, a community page on Facebook. The nose is interesting, but I am not convinced that I like it. I find a malty heart with lots of earthy notes, plasticine, black tea, pipe tobacco, dried ham, caramelized orange peel, raisin and cough syrup. But it does not seem to work together. This continues on the palate and to be honest, the first sip is disgusting. Sorry, it is what it is. Pancake batter with peat, orange marmalade and dry sherry. What is going on here? The second sip brings that somewhat under control with chocolate, honey, raisins and some menthol. Only from the third sip forward am I able to start to appreciate it a bit. The finish is the only part of this whisky that pleases instantly. Pear syrup, diesel oil and oranges. Spicy and warm. Medium length. This is a very ‘dirty’ whisky which needs the benefit of the doubt. Trust me: tasting it only once will not convince you. You might throw it out. Twice: okay-ish. Go for three sips at least. That is not to say that I want this in my cabinet. I presume I just do not understand this whisky.

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