Tasting 4 Macduffs

Macduff is a young distillery established as recent as 1963. It is also known by the name Glen Deveron, which is a river nearby the distillery. Personally I think Macduff is a better name for a modern single malt whisky. Time to discover a bit more of this malt.



Glen Deveron 12yo 40% OB

A bottling from the 80's. The color is dark golden, adjusted with caramel. It smells spirity, oak, wool, burnt rubber, not pleasant. The taste is light, floral, linseed oil, grainy, rubber, apple vinegar, straws. With a bit of water added it turns sweeter, fruit gums, marshmallows, potato starch. A weird whisky that leaves no finish, not particularly enjoyable and gone within seconds.

One to get drunk off, if that's desired: 3


Macduff 20yo 1978-1999 43% Malt Whisky Association cask#5041 btl.99/394

A "Millennium Bottling" this one is called. Amber orange color. It smells burnt, honey, dried red paprika, a sherried one? The taste is sweet cinnamon, slightly drying, floral, maple syrup, sweet onions, roasted bell peppers. The finish is mild and infused with lots of herbs, thyme, coriander, leeks, cream, swiss cheese, a very interesting whisky. And a very good alternative if you wanna discover this malt I think.

For a 43%, plenty of character: 6


Macduff 30yo 43% Vom Fass

Little information on this one to be honest. A whisky this age usually carries some vintage, cask numbers, type or whatever. The Singapore Whisky Blog suggests its from a sherry cask. I have no idea, but I'll stick to that so far. The color is amber orange. It smells caramel, cinnamon, honey, white wine, gingerbread, sweet dough, salsa, garlic, expressive stuff. It tastes burnt, white pepper, grassy, not as goos as I hoped after the nice nose. The finish is short and peppery. Maybe a bit of water will help it out. Now it tastes vanilla, licorice, drying.

Think I need a magnifier to find some of its true flavors: 4


Macduff 10yo 2000-2010 56.5% Exclusive Malts for the Bonding Dram cask#3525

From a sherry butt. I remember a great sherried Macduff from Whisky Doris I had a couple months back. Let's hope this one follows up. Dark red hue. It smells sherried, oloroso, honey, cinnamon, nutty, creamy caramel, dark chocolate. This is sherried young whisky as it should be. The taste is not that sherried, reminds me more of tawny port and dark roast coffee. Along with some dark berries and licorice sweetness. Textbook sweet sherried whisky. The finish is sweet and minty, eucalyptus and dark berries.

Perfect work from the wood: 8