Miltonduff 1969-2008, Sato Sake Shop 40th Anniversary, Gordon & MacPhail Reserve, First fill sherry butt no. 15293, 60.4% abv.

There is an official release of this Miltonduff, but that one is 40/43% abv. Family run liquor store, Sake Shop Sato, releases some famous bottles, this being one of them. The owner mentioned that it is very difficult to secure casks or bottlings nowadays because it is too expensive. So many distributors, bars, owners go to places like Arran which still have inexpensive cask programs. Japan has a large supply of Arran.

Nose: vanilla, honey, butter too. Very nice.

Palate: very rich, full body, texture is like honey, initial palate is honey and transitions into a mid palate of honey dipped bananas that get fried, like a decadent dessert after a luxurious meal, could taste the beginning of a raisin attack, and of course the back palate is really sweet, wrath of honey-marinated raisins, delectable.

Finish: short to medium, has a sharp smokey wood, with an emphasis on wood aftertaste.

Wow... this is amazingly good!!! There are distinguishable stages in the taste, starts with a lesson on texture and mouthfeel, then naturally transitions to a sweet and well balanced barrage of matured flavors. I think texture is the main focus being extremely good and unique, flavors are good as well with an emphasis on honeyed raisins. Extremely well done. I am so glad I had this last; this is like a dram killer, every dram after a bottle like this is just tasteless. I cannot describe how good this dram is.
After traveling Japan more, I've discovered this bottle is famous, but for being extremely bitter when it first came out. Not many bartenders liked it, and all said it was extremely bitter. They also suggested that given such a long time it should have gotten better. Interesting.

Grade: A

Couldn't find quantifiable, reliable reviews.

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

🇭🇰 🇺🇸(LA, SF) -> 🇯🇵 (京都, 東京) -> 🇰🇷 (서울, 부산)