The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar - Door Number 19

Each day in December until Christmas Day we are opening a door on The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar and posting our tasting notes on our blog.

The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar door number 19 Miltonduff Samaroli

Today is 'Panic Saturday' or some such rubbish, but we're just taking it easy with a 1995 Miltonduff 20yo from Samaroli on day 19. Unlike the previous ones from this bottler, it's a bit higher in strength at 45%.

On the nose there are classic signs of bourbon cask maturation: vanilla, lemongrass, toffee, biscuits. There's also putty, a hint of plasticine and a little bit of marzipan.

On the palate it's syrupy and rich. There's buttery toffee, cinnamon, cloves and a hint of sultanas. It's prickly on the tongue and sweet but with a touch of peppery heat keeping it all in check.

The finish is long with lashings of toffee, dried fruits, cocoa, cinnamon and a touch of treacle. There's a ash note right at the end.

With water the nose has more cereals, the palate is less thick and peppery but more juicy and just as nicely balanced. On the finish a little more of the ash comes through at the end.

This is a bit more beefy than the usual Samaroli bottlings we have been used to. A wonderful, rich, sweet dram that's got plenty going on in there.

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