Zuidam 19yo 1999/2021

Zuidam 19yo 1999/2021

Selection, Adelphi 
Single malt - North Brabant 
Amber, hints of red 
52.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, red grapes, cocoa nibs, damson jam, dark chocolate, strawberries. With water, raisins, dark chocolate, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, expands, airy, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, red grapes, cocoa nibs, clay dust, cloves, black pepper, kiwifruit, hints of strawberry jam. With water, cocoa nibs, damson jam, cloves, hints of brown paper. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, dark chocolate, red grapes, kiwifruit. 

Comments: 

Cask 2547. Excellent stuff, this, creamy and fruity, lots of classic sherry notes, but with plenty of spirit background. It has also been given plenty of time to develop. Some of that must have been in a plastic vessel, but it doesn’t seem to have hurt it too much. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Millstone 10yo 2004/2014 Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey

Millstone 10yo 2004/2014 Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey

Official bottling 
Single rye - North Brabant
Dark amber red
58.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, white pepper, curry leaf, orange peel, cloves, camphor. With water, autumn leaves, black tea, hints of bonfire embers. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, warm, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Corn syrup, white pepper, orange peel, raisins, camphor, vanilla, hints of chocolate. With water, raisins, oats, corn syrup, cloves, hints of chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, black tea, cloves, raisins, orange peel, hints of chocolate. 

Comments: 

Cask 667. A very spicy rye, lots of nutty undertones best. But it’s fiery, and really clouds your palate at full strength. A bit of water thins it out, but the spiciness fades, leaving some cereally, fruity notes. Rewards introspection.

Verdict:

I like this.

Millstone Peated PX Cask 4yo 2013/2018

Millstone Peated PX Cask 4yo 2013/2018

Official bottling
Single malt - North Brabant
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oranges, jasmine tea, tobacco leaf, lemon zest, hints of driftwood. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, turns watery, loose, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Tobacco leaf, lemon zest, oranges, salt caramel, leather, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Jasmine tea, raisins, salt caramel, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

Fragrant and briny, this has a dry, perfumy floral note overlaying sweet saltiness. It works, despite sounding a bit odd. It's also young, and I think it would benefit from aging a bit more. A problem all young distilleries face.

Verdict:

I like this.

Millstone 12 yo Sherry Cask Matured

Millstone 12 yo Sherry Cask Matured

Official bottling
Single malt - North Brabant
Dark amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red wine, sandalwood, raisins, leather, black tea, hints of peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Black tea, leather, pomeloes, raisins, chocolate, hints of sandalwood. 
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, raisins, sandalwood, hints of coffee. 

Comments: 

Nicely sherried whisky. It's chocolatey, leathery, and more than a little fruity. Quite fragrant, slightly Japanese in character. It isn't, of course, it's Dutch, but the sherry cask influence is generous and flavourful without being overwhelming. Very nice.

Verdict:

I like this.

Millstone 10 yo American Oak

Millstone 10 yo American Oak

Official bottling
Single malt - North Brabant
Copper
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, rhubarb and custard sweets, brass polish, lemon thyme, hints of sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Red grapes, lemon zest, vanilla, rhubarb and custard sweets, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, red grapes, ginseng, lemon thyme. 

Comments: 

Refreshing and lush, this tastes very like a young Rosebank (not that there's a lot of that stuff around these days). It's spicy and grapey, which some stinging on the tongue that's also reminiscent of a rye whiskey. Great stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Millstone 14 yo 1999/2014

Millstone 14 yo 1999/2014

Milroy's of Soho
Single malt - North Brabant
Mahogany
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, brass polish, soy sauce, leather, cherries, sugar cane, hints of rhubarb and custard. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, slightly watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla, chocolate, cherries, sugar cane, fresh baked bread, hints of red grapes. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, leather, toast, black tea, hints of cherries. 

Comments: 

Cask #1355. Flavourful and rich, plenty of sweet chocolatey bite, even slightly savoury notes on the tongue. This is great sherried whisky. The short finish was a surprise, but it was really intense, toasty, fruity and slightly tannic. I really enjoyed this.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Millstone 100 Rye Whiskey

Millstone 100 Rye Whiskey

Official bottling
Single rye - North Brabant
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, cinnamon, rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon zest, pears, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, watery, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Magic marker, wheatgerm, lemon zest, vanilla, grated coconut, cinnamon, hints of toast. 
Finish: Medium. Toast, wheatgerm, lemon zest, pears. 

Comments: 

100 proof, matured for 100 months, 100% rye mashbill, and my first Dutch whisky. Very spicy kick, and some interesting rhubarb and custard flavours. Lots of coconutty toasty, cereally notes on the tongue. Somewhat overpowering, but what would one expect from rye?

Verdict:

I like this a lot.