Wee duets, today Macduff


September 2, 2022

Wee duets, today Macduff

Not a lot to say, I'm not sure I've ever seen any official Macduff. I mean, Macduff under that name, as there's been rather a lot of Glen Deveron, which has always been a little 'budgety' in France. But long time no see either, little Glen Deveron…

This rather simple French ad from circa 1980 reminds us that Macduff a.k.a. Glen Deveron is the home of William Lawson's.

Macduff 12 yo 2008/2020 (55.1%, Campbeltown Whisky Company, The Electric Coo Series, sherry butt)

This is not, mind you, a bottling for Switzerland, despite what the label may suggest. Colour: deep gold. Nose: I've been expecting something tough and really very rustic, and, well, it is a little rustic (and tough) but these sour wines work well. Very old chardonnay that's starting to 'maderise', as we say, then chalk and clay. With water: very chalky indeed. Flints, soot, some muddiness for sure, even bandages… Mouth (neat): it is a better one, thanks to some raisins and truckloads of ultra-ripe peaches. Sultanas. With water: good! Oranges, raisins and once more a little chalk. It loves water and swims as well as any boomer's hero, nine-time American Olympic champion Mark Spitz. A good one by the way, after Munich, Mark Spitz told the Russian coach that his moustache increased his speed as it was pushing the water away from his mouth. He was joking of course but the next year, all Russian swimmers were sporting moustaches (well, the men). True story. Finish: medium, clean, on raisins and triple-sec. A wee meatiness in the aftertaste. Comments: way superior to many other indie Macduffs from similar vintages, in my book.
SGP:651 - 85 points.

Macduff 13 yo 2007/2021 (56.7%, Alister Walker Infrequent Flyers, Selected by Or Sileis, PX sherry hogshead, cask #1805, 285 bottles)

Let's hope this one too is not one of the 'dirty' sherried ones… Colour: wham, mahogany. Nose: no dirty sherry, rather cartloads of chocolate. Pure chocolate. With water: more meaty, oloroso-style sherry, all rather flawless. Noses likesome of these blended old VORS (oloroso plus PX). Mouth (neat): chocolate filled with zwetschke spirit and prunes, plus some marmalade and a touch of ginger. With water: a syrupy texture and indeed a sweeter development. I had expected a meaty side but we're rather all on chocolate, liqueurs and raisins, with some sides rather close to brandy de Jerez. Finish: medium to long, similarly sweet and brandy-like. Dried dates in the aftertaste. Comments: very lovely, rich, easy, absolutely not unbalanced.
SGP:741 - 85 points.

It was a good little day for our 'Macduff section'.

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