Daftmill 2006 Winter Batch Release (UK)

The eleventh stop on the SDT is Daftmill. This Lowland distillery operates on a farm, housed within a converted barn. Its maximum yearly production is a mere 20,000 liters, with approximately 100 casks filled annually. Distillation occurs only twice a year, in winter and summer, during lulls in farm activities. The 2006 Winter batch, their second release, comprises just six first-fill bourbon casks (080/2006, 081/2006, 082/2006, 083/2006, 084/2006, 085/2006), yielding 1625 bottles, bottled on December 16th, 2018. It's bottled at 46% ABV, is non-chill filtered, and has a natural pale straw color. The aroma is dominated by dry grass infused with lemon/lime citrus. Notes of green grapes, honey, malty, and barley sugar are present, along with creamy vanilla and bourbony oak. Hints of pickled ginger, dried berries, and a touch of mint emerge. Green apples and unripe pears, pineapple, orange citrus, and an oranges & cream character contribute a tropical, yet not overwhelming, fruitiness. There's a slightly nutty, almond flour-like, biscuity quality. It presents a light and delicate entry on the palate, with bright lemon/lime citrus. A somewhat sharp bourbony oak, leaning more towards oak than bourbon, and a floral touch are noticeable. It's a very clean and pure spirit. Similar to the nose, it develops a tropical profile, perhaps even more pronounced, with pineapple, ginger, coconut, orange, and a hint of papaya. Some vanilla and a little peppery spice are also detected. A light to medium-bodied mouthfeel, it feels creamy, coating, and dry. The finish is relatively short, featuring oak, lime, and pineapple. I must admit, initially, this whisky didn't impress me much; it seemed a bit dull. No peat, no sherry, no fancy wine cask finish... what's the point? Then I realized this represents a more traditional approach to producing scotch: quality first-fill casks, aged to a suitable maturity rather than just an age statement, with no embellishments to mask any flaws. Apart from wishing for a slightly stronger finish, there's really nothing to fault with this single malt. I'm confident that in 5-6 years, they will have a truly fine 18-year-old on their hands. 3.75-4 Cheers

Daftmill is among Scotland's newer distilleries. What's quite surprising about them is their substantial capital funding, which allowed them to avoid releasing underaged or very young whisky to sustain operations. They were able to wait nearly 12 years before releasing an official single malt whisky. This particular bottle is from the Winter 2006 distillation, bottled in 2018 and offered in very limited quantities. A friend kindly sent me this sample as we strive to keep our Scottish Distillery Tour current. This malt has a pale yellow hue and a slightly oily texture in the Glencairn glass. There aren't many legs, and only small, slow-forming droplets form, likely due to the slightly higher ABV of 46%. I believe it's non-chill filtered and unlikely to have added color. The aroma consists of apples and fresh popcorn, raw, shelled peanuts, and lime wedges. It also possesses a pleasing "minerality." Some floral and perfume notes emerged, along with a gentle, soft hint of vanilla. Allowing this dram time to sit is quite rewarding. The palate, to me, is intensely citrus-forward. There's a dominant Clynelish-like waxiness and very pleasant tropical fruit and pineapple slices. It presents as lightly salted with abundant lime notes. This spirit is packed with lime flavor. The citrusy sharpness prevents the waxiness from becoming overly cloying, which I appreciated. The finish evoked a well-crafted margarita. Fresh limes and salt linger persistently, accompanied by a nice agave fruit flavor that coats everything. Some fresh oak marks the very end, making this an excellent dram, whether considered whisky or not. Overall, this is a superb spirit. Kudos to Daftmill for not rushing subpar products to market early on. Waiting for quality speaks volumes to me, and I will eagerly anticipate anything and everything from this distillery in the future. If you can find a bottle at a reasonable price, I strongly recommend trying it – you won't be disappointed. Awarding it 4-4.25 stars. Cheers.

I had come to firmly believe that all new distilleries quickly release their worst products first at ridiculous prices, accompanied by immense fanfare and marketing hype. Examples include Abhainn Dearg, Eden Mill, and Glasgow, offering three-year-old crap products at Macallan prices, which are then flipped for double or triple in the secondary market without anyone actually tasting them, only reselling. The days are gone when distilleries like Kilchoman, considered new a decade ago, offered excellent three-year-olds at an affordable $70. Until now. Daftmill, the newest Lowlander, does things differently. It's not a three-year-old presented as a newcomer; it's a twelve-year-old. Furthermore, it's a micro-local distillery that cultivates and malts Chariot barley on its own farms. It also forgoes round-the-clock distillation, operating seasonally, much like distilleries did centuries ago, distilling only between harvests. This results in a very small output, akin to a craft distillery. This particular release, for instance, was distilled in winter 2006 and bottled in winter 2018. Of all the Lowlanders I've sampled, this one truly stands out. The initial aroma is abundant with fruit baskets, reminiscent of strawberry shortcake. It has an oily, thick mouthfeel with more strawberries and peaches. It's just exceptionally well-crafted, demonstrating that by not rushing the process, they took their time and did it correctly. Typically, only 1600 bottles are released each season, priced accessibly around $100. However, retailers now charge well over $200, and secondary market prices are astronomical. If you can find it for $100, it's likely the best single malt you'll get for that price. I purchased mine for $125 from TWE, but it sold out minutes later. With only 1600 bottles available, they disappear quickly. Avoid paying secondary market prices (over $700), and anything between $100-$200 is subjective.

This was part of the SDT group tasting, which now feels like ages ago when that journey took place. Unfortunately, this arrived with a cracked bottle top, leaving me with about a one-ounce pour. But, one ounce is better than none. A mellow, sweet fruity and floral aroma. Freshly sliced unripened apples with a spritz of lime juice. Lightly toasted wheat bread, coconut shavings, tea and honey, cream soda with a mineral hint of raw, freshly opened clam shells. It reaches the palate with a mild spicy edge, featuring flavors of vanilla, key lime, kiwi, and almonds. The body is light and velvety. There is a pleasant long finish that is drying with ample oak tannins and sweetened lime juice. A nice bouquet is bright, vibrant, and alluring with a palate. Although it lacks a broad range of flavors, those present are very bold and distinct. A well-crafted spirit, and I only regret not having more to experience. Many thanks to the provider for the sample. [89/100][Tasted: 8/21/20]

Brown sugar and caramel on the nose. Warm spice, vanilla, and plum on the palate.