This bottling was tasted as part of our Spirits Embassy tasting on 2/11/21.
This Octave Miltonduff has been aged for 10 years in oak casks, it has then spent 3 months in Octave cask #8331353. Only 75 bottles came from this cask when it was bottled in 2021.
For many years, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Limited has experimented in the use of differing cask sizes for the maturation of single malt and single grain scotch whiskies. This research stemmed from the simple premise that there is more interaction between the wood and spirit over a shorter period of time in a small cask than in a large cask, allowing a faster melding of wood, air and alcohol. The spirit in this bottle is an exclusive example of good whisky taken beyond all expectations to become rich, complex and wise beyond its years; it has been ‘Octave Invigorated’
The Spirits Embassy
Appearance
Slightly darker than mid gold here, nice thick swirl line that beads up straight away, with medium thick legs. #thewhiskeychaps
Nose
There’s a menthol/ wood mixture straight away here for me, linseed, brown sugar, foresty too, evergreen boughs, there are floral notes, light perfume too, leaning towards black liquorice. #thewhiskeychaps
It is becoming fruitier now, i’m thinking greengages, white grapes, and cigar leaves. #thewhiskeychaps
Quite strong, very nice mate. #thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) November 2, 2021
Palate
Lovely mouthfeel here, and now i’m getting the Miltonduff fruit, yes with cigar leaves, red apple skins, blood oranges, mocha coffee, cardamom, and it’s lovely and spicy. #thewhiskeychaps
Definitely some chilli here sad @whiskeychap suggested, pontifract cakes, chocolate croissants, figs, and dates too. #thewhiskeychaps
Miltonduff palate: creamy, buttery mouthfeel that really coats the palate. A bitter note like caramelised sugar, noticeable abv gives a spicy edge, mild tobacco comes in late in the day#thewhiskeychaps
— Single Malt Mike 🥃 (@whiskyodyssey) November 2, 2021
Finish
Quite long, stays spicy for a good while, really warms the palate. More mocha now, more dates, not so much wood, and more brown sugar/ molasses, becomes quite sweet, very nice. #thewhiskeychaps
My thoughts
I do enjoy finding whiskies from more unusual or overlooked distilleries, and as a result of this i have tried several Miltonduff bottlings, and found them to be rather good. Of the 5 drams we tried during this tasting i was most looking forward to the Braeval and this Miltonduff offering.
For me the nose and palate are quite different, the nose does hide the experience the palate brings, and on the palate i found the fruits iv’e had with other Miltonduff’s, it also develops nicely. I really enjoyed this whisky and would love to have a bottle to be honest.
Overall: A lovely, ever-evolving dram, full of spice and fruit, but with a deleicate floral side too. Very nice! #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) November 2, 2021
Notes – This whisky is from a single cask, is non chill filtered, natural coloured and at natural cask strength.
Thanks to – Ian Logan – @iantheguardian, senior manager of whisky and hospitality at Duncan Taylor, and Mike – @whiskyodyssey, for joining us on this tasting, and for letting me use their tweets in my review, we had a great evening. You can follow Ian and Mike below.
Our tasting schedule can be found on our website, Thewhiskeychaps.com
Follow @dtcwhiskies Follow @iantheguardian Follow @Spirits_Embassy Follow @whiskyodyssey Follow @thewhiskeychaps
