Bags of Macduff part two


May 13, 2020

Bags of Macduff – part two

Because we had more. A part three is not out of question by the way, we shall see…

Macduff 10 yo 2006/2017 (55%, Which, Madeira finish, 400 bottles)

Didn’t we mention Madeira right yesterday? I would believe it’s pretty smart to associate Macduff and Madeira, not only because both start with ‘ma’ (S., I believe lockdown is getting on your nerves.) Colour: gold. Nose: mustard and exhaust fumes, not a start that’s unseen. Gunpowder, struck matches, Brussels sprouts, paint thinner, putty… Well well well, looks like we’re at Ikea’s again. With water: new plastics, or another lousy parcel from Wish’s. Ha. Cooked asparagus. Mouth (neat): very thick, mustardy, with bags of bitter oranges, leather, ginger, and a bit of lavender sweet. With water: ginger, leather and orange zests. Finish: rather long. Cabbage and mustard. Comments: oh well, that was pretty art-house. Noticed that I haven’t used the S word?
SGP:362 - 70 points.

Macduff 20 yo 1997/2018 (57.3%, Murray McDavid for SCSM, China, sherry butts, cask #5865, 634 bottles)

Colour: gold. Nose: soot, chalk, fennel seeds, jelly babies, cranberry syrup, sour fruits, yogurt, fumes… Not too sure, really, it does seem to be looking for its path. Could be rotgut, could be a winner. Patience… With water: asparagus cooking water, hard-boiled eggs, coal smoke, coaltar… This is very bizarre, really very bizarre…Mouth (neat): it must have been an ex-peater cask. Laphroaig? Peat, cough syrup, lime, brine… This is not ‘Macduff’ at all, but not sure we should complain. With water: what the hug is this? Burnt bananas, smoked parsnips, barbecued marshmallows… Is this legal? Finish: long, odd, punk and funk. And some cream egg in the aftertaste! Comments: this is a vicious little whisky! Let’s not be too harsh, but I’m wondering if this wasn’t paid for by the Committee to Keep Whisky Evil.
SGP:563 - 69 points.

Hey not an easy flight… Let’s seek tranquillity and peace…

Macduff 21 yo 1997/2018 (51.5%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, refill hogshead, cask #12362, 326 bottles)

Colour: white wine. Nose: immediately oaky and sulphury, but as a matter of fact, that unlikely combo kind of works here. Freshly sawn oak, used matches, then shortbread, brioche, pencil shavings (and lead), sour cream, wee whiffs of fresh baby vomit… Yeah well… With water: new plywood at the plywood shop, porridge, damp oats... Mouth (neat): ah nice! Lemon yogurt and orange blossom honey, then granny smith and cucumber. Indeed, cucumber. Yes I wrote cucumber, no typo. With water: gets a tad wishy-washy, I would say water’s unnecessary here. Finish: long, sour, yogurty, porridge-y. That’s a little difficult. Comments: no comprendo mucho here. Don’t they do blends?
SGP:362 - 77 points.

Let’s try again…

Macduff 21 yo 1997/2018 (51.5%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, refill hogshead, cask #12593, 335 bottles)

Colour: white wine. Nose: petrol for small 2-stroke engines (old Italian engines – oh whatever) and sourdough, plus plywood again and sour cream. A tough baby, no doubt. With water: a tad more ‘normal’. Sooty smokes, or the other way ‘round. Mouth (neat): melon cream and cardboard, sour wood, pink pepper, green apple, sawdust, milk, mashed turnips… With water: a tad fruitier. M&S’s jellies and cheap liqueurs. Finish: rather long, sour, woody, mashy. Comments: no, really, this one reminds me of our old Gitane Testis, Malagutis, Fantics… But we’re insensitive to nostalgia. Of course we are. Not an easy drop.
SGP:361 - 72 points.

As their Queen said a few days ago, never give up!...

Macduff 25 yo 1990/2016 (49.1%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, refill hogshead, cask #11356, 136 bottles)

25, that’s a good age for malt whisky. But this is loco Macduff, so let’s see… Colour: light gold. Nose: coconut and vanilla at first sniffs, that’s rejuvenated US oak. In theory. Other than that, notes of pineapples, fresh wood, and a few vegetables and roots. Pretty nice. With water: some kind of vegetable soup with a dollop of lightish acacia honey. Mouth (neat): nice for a while, then soapy, sour and bitterish. I find it strange that Douglas Laing would have bottled this. With water: no, oak is coming out in a very disorderly fashion. Finish: medium, cardboardy, a little difficult. Comments: I hope DL are having better stuff these days. Well I’d guess they have.
SGP:351 - 68 points.

Alert! We are sinking!... I know who’s gonna help…

Macduff 1997/2018 (56%, Gordon & MacPhail, Connoisseurs Choice, refill sherry hogshead, cask #18/041, 207 bottles)

We all know that G&M are kings of sherry maturing. We’ve seen their casks being made and prepared in Jerez, bung up and no lousy palettes, kudos! Colour: amber. Nose: could we please have a ‘normal’ Macduff? I’m saying that because this one’s shock full of gun oil (reminds me of my days in the army) and mushrooms. Not an unpleasant feeling at all, it’s just that it’s really very unusual. With water: wonderful fresh wild mushrooms! I’m thinking of those utterly glorious pieds-bleus (blue feet a.k.a. Lepista nuda a.k.a. Rhodopaxillus nudus) Kings of late-season mushrooms. Mouth (neat): fun metallic notes, fun bitter oranges (aplenty), and lovely very oloroso-y walnuts. Old rancio, artichoke liqueur, walnut wine… With water: the mushrooms are back. Finish: and they’re still there. Some muscovado sugar too. Comments: just impeccable. You say Macduff?
SGP:561 - 87 points.

We aren’t losing steam yet…

Macduff 20 yo 1997/2017 (51.3%, Valinch & Mallet, bourbon, cask #170120, 296 bottles)

Colour: white wine. Nose: these metallic notes once again, brake pads (not obligatorily after the Nürburgring), flints, bitter herbs… With water: oatcakes, lawn, raw wool, a little manure, fresh concrete, mud… Mouth (neat): oh, a (very marginally) gentler Macduff. Coffee and Golden Grahams, beans, leather, pepper… With water: touches of mead, otherwise leathery sweet touches. Between chestnuts and soybeans. I agree that’s not very sexy, and not very well written at that. Finish: medium, on mead and bitter bears. Pretty yeasty aftertaste. Comments: aren’t these whacky Macduffs becoming a little tiring?
SGP:461 - 79 points.

Good, an insane young baby and we’ll call this another finito tasting session…

Macduff 9 yo 2008/2017 (61%, Van Wees, The Ultimate, first fill sherry, cask #900343, 645 bottles)

Oh-my-god… Colour: amber. Nose: Guinness, roasted chestnuts, butterscotch, girls’ gloss, coconut balls. There. With water: yes. Modern oak, coffee, butterscotch, vanilla, caramel, toasted bread and pastries. Modern and very nice, even pretty Dr-Jim-Swan-esque. Cheers Dr. Swan! Mouth (neat): yep! Very active oak over some sourish distillate, that seemed to work, it’s just that it’s a bit basic so far, and very strong. Now as Mishima used to say – that’s a quote I love – ‘True beauty is something that attacks, overpowers, robs, and finally destroys.’ Probably not the first time I’m writing that. With water: almost liquid caramel blended with peanut butter and maple syrup. Almost molasses. Finish: long, rich, roasted, on crème caramel, honeyed and creamy for a long time. Like, say 30 caudalies. Of course Google isn’t our friend. Comments: I sometimes hate it that I would find these modern cookings pretty good. In truth there are quite a few new whiskies that may well lead me to a schizophrenic conflict with my former ego. But I’ll manage (while drinking Cognac).
SGP:551 - 85 points.

Guess what, we’ll be back tomorrow with even more Macduff (I hear you bursting out with joy!)

Check the index of all Macduff we've tasted so far