That Boutique-y Whisky Company Millstone 1996 Aged 25 Years Batch #5

Style: Elegantly Sherried

Rating: ☆ [Recommended]

Nose:

An exquisite symphony of dark fruits, evoking the charm of old-school sherry classics. Black cherries, red currants, ripe figs, and dates merge with the umami depth of thick soy sauce, extending into a luscious treacle finish. Beneath this sherried grandeur lies a delicate layer of glazed tangerines, pears, and glistening malt, interwoven with whispers of fine gunpowder and chalk. A refreshing peppermint mist lingers, elevating this captivating aroma. An excellent nose.

Palate:

Pure and unadulterated expression of Oloroso sherry. The dark, velvety sherry glides effortlessly across the palate, carrying waves of rich dark and red fruits. Hints of chocolate shavings and diluted demerara sugar emerge, seamlessly blending with malt, crushed black peppercorns, and bright citrus fruits as they gracefully rise to prominence. The intensity mellows, fading elegantly into a gentle finale.

Finish:

Dark fruits evolve into a nutty complexity, harmonizing with subtle citrus and tropical notes. The malt weaves through, leaving a soft, lingering conclusion.

Thoughts:

From memory, this was the bottle that sparked the Millstone craze a couple of years ago. If tasted blind, who would guess this is a Dutch whisky? Elegant, refined, and irresistibly sweet, it invokes fond memories of the golden era of Macallan. While I would argue that the back palate of this Millstone is weaker and the Macallan has an overall better make, but honestly, this is as close as you can get these days to remind you how it was when Macallan reigned supreme.

[46.5% | Independent Bottling | 1996 Distilled | 2022 Bottled | Single Cask | Natural Cask Strength | Non Coloured | Oloroso Hogshead | 94 of 380 Bottles | *+]