Miltonduff | 100 Proof Edition #14 | Signatory Vintage | 2011/2024 | 12 Jahre | 57,1%

The Miltonduff Distillery, founded in 1824 by Andrew Peary and Robert Bain, is located near Pluscarden Abbey in the Speyside region, about six miles southwest of Elgin. Originally, the distillery operated illicit stills until the Excise Act was passed, allowing for legal production. By the end of the 19th century, Miltonduff was one of Scotland's largest whisky producers, using a unique triple distillation method, a rare technique for Highland and Speyside distilleries.

The distillery primarily produces for blended whiskies, particularly for the brands Ballantine’s, Teacher’s, and Old Smuggler. However, Miltonduff has also released some notable single malt bottlings, including a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old whisky. Especially known is the rare "Very Rare" bottling, which is valued for its limited availability and high quality.

Miltonduff whiskies are characterized by their fruity and floral notes, often accompanied by hints of spices, vanilla, and honey. These flavor profiles result from the use of unpeated malt and aging in a combination of American white oak and sherry casks. The water source for the distillery is the Black Burn, known for its purity and significant contribution to the whisky's quality.

In 1964, Lomond stills were installed at Miltonduff to produce Mosstowie whisky, which was discontinued in 1981. Today, Miltonduff is part of Chivas Brothers, a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard, and has a production capacity of 5.8 million liters per year.

Although there are few official single malt releases from Miltonduff, independent bottlers like Gordon & MacPhail regularly release their own versions.

Signatory Vintage, based in Perthshire, Scotland, is a leading independent bottler known since its founding in 1988 by Andrew Symington for its exquisite and rare Scottish whiskies. With access to approximately 35,000 casks, Signatory offers an impressive range of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies that highlight the unique properties of each individual cask.

Diverse Premium Quality Offerings

The Signatory Vintage product range includes regular bottlings at 43% alcohol content, a cask strength series, and a non-chill-filtered series. Each of these series is appreciated for their purity and authenticity, as they forego artificial colorants and chill filtration. These practices help preserve the natural taste and color of the whisky, which is particularly popular among connoisseurs.

Preservers of History

A special aspect of Signatory Vintage is their commitment to preserving whiskies from closed distilleries. These bottlings offer enthusiasts the rare opportunity to taste whiskies from a bygone era of whisky production. The acquisition of the Edradour Distillery in 2002 marked another milestone for Signatory Vintage, as they now also oversee the distillation process themselves, thus gaining greater control over production.

Exclusive Bottlings and Collectibles

Among the notable releases are the Cask Strength Collection, which offers whiskies at cask strength, and the Silent Stills series, which includes the last available quantities from no longer existing distilleries. These series are particularly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs looking for extraordinary and limited editions.