The fifth edition of the Whisky in Leiden festival is coming up this week-end. The festival bottling is a Dutch single malt: lightly peated Millstone matured in a Pedro Ximénez cask. It is just 3 years old.
Zuidam distillery is behind the Millstone brand name and it is currently run by Patrick and Gilbert Zuidam.
Millstone 3 yo 2013
(56,6%, OB for Whisky in Leiden 2016, peated P.X. cask, 332 btl.)
Nose: starts quite malty and a bit grassy, before picking up freshness. Some raisins and coffee. Apricot jam and a lightly acidic grapefruit note. Hints of coconut. A little vanilla and varnish too. There’s definitely smoke, but not on the same level as Islay whisky.
Mouth: more obvious peat now, with herbal notes and sweet syrupy sherry, merging into a hint of cough syrup. Quite sooty, which works quite well alongside the peppery oak and liquorice. Some Turkish coffee notes, including the bittersweet edge.
Finish: medium long, smoky, with sweet figs, herbs and some plain oak.
I may not be the biggest fan of this uncommon and in a way slightly rustic style, but I have to say it’s well ahead of its age. Good balance of dry and sweet notes too, and perfectly drinkable at full strength. Available at the festival of course and from Whiskysite.nl. Around € 50.
Score: 83/100