Macduff 1999 14 Year Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Stop number 29 on the SDT is Macduff. This Speyside distillery is likely better known as Glen Deveron. The distillery apparently switches names between the two for unclear reasons. Macduff appears hard to find as a single malt, hence this independent bottling from Duncan Taylor. This is a single cask bottling, bottled at cask strength of 54.6% ABV. This suggests Duncan Taylor likely purchased several casks. Distilled in 1998. This possesses a natural yellow-gold color and is non-chill filtered. The nose is full and intense. Heavy cereal malt and honey dominate, with ample cinnamon, oak, and light toffee. Fruity notes of baked apples and pears, coconut, and perhaps cantaloupe are present. Barley sugar sweetness with vanilla and caramel. A slightly grassy character with a hint of menthol. A touch of bitterness comes through with cocoa powder and some licorice. A waxy note is also detected, along with a damp/musty aroma. The palate offers no surprises relative to the nose. Again, it's heavy on the malt and honey. Black pepper, cinnamon, oak, and aniseed are prominent. Baked apples and pears are noted. More oak and wood spices are present. There's a significant amount of heat from the high ABV, but it's manageable. Medium to full-bodied mouthfeel. Slightly hot and oily, but it becomes dry. Medium-length finish. Spicy and sweet, with oak and malt being the dominant flavors. For cask strength, this is relatively easy to drink. It's not overly complex, but it showcases a pleasant Speyside profile. I believe this bottle was acquired for $115. In my assessment, this is too high for the scotch's quality. I understand the price is influenced by its cask strength, independent bottling, and relative rarity as a single malt, but the whisky itself is average. It's typical for a Speyside, offering nothing distinct from a Cragganmore or Glenlivet. I would not purchase a bottle at this price point, but perhaps at $65. Thanks to a friend for the sample. 3.75. Cheers

This was the third sample tasted in our second round of distillery samples. It was an independent bottling from Duncan Taylor, part of their Octave series releases. It is 14 years old and was offered at cask strength of 54.6% ABV. The Macduff distillery is presently owned and operated by Bacardi. The official designation is Glen Deveron due to its proximity to the River Deveron, in the Scottish highlands - their water source. Currently, they offer 3 official distillery releases: a 16, 20, and 30 year old single malt. All independent bottle releases utilize the Macduff name, as Bacardi protects the Glen Deveron name for the core releases. Only approximately 10% of the whisky is allocated for these bottles, with the remainder used in blends for Dewars and William Lawson. The nose is intensely sweet. Cereal grains, honey, and bread effectively balance the oak and vanilla. It is not very harsh despite the high ABV - indicating its significant sweetness. Overpowering. The palate offers a similar experience. Sweet honey and vanilla that feels richer than anticipated. It remains on the tongue briefly until the heat and oak pepper introduce an unexpected smoothness. This leads to the least favorable aspect of this malt - the finish. While slightly hot, it dissipates quickly, leaving a thin and dry sensation on the tongue. The heat follows the liquid down, resulting in a harshness. If the initial aroma and tasting experience persisted, I would likely rate this higher than anticipated, but the rough, unvaried finish compels me to seek cocktail recipes to consume the remaining 1/3 of the bottle. I paid well over $100 for this bottle, and it is certainly not worth that price. I can identify two dozen other bottles I would prefer, but it is another distillery checked off our Scotland tour list. 3.25 stars. Cheers, friends.

Rough start, lacking any distinct flavor.

A simple pour.