Review by: zSolaris
Distillery: Millburn.
Bottler: The Bottlers.
Region: Highland.
Age: 20 Year. Distilled in December of 1982 bottled in June of 2003.
ABV: 63.0%. Cask Strength.
Cask Type: Refill Sherry Hogshead.
Cask Number: 1971.
Price: Sample courtesy of /u/_asipper.
Color: 1.1, Burnished.
Nose: Really fruity. Grapes, specifically green grapes, make up just about all of what I get here.
Palate: You definitely feel the burn on this at full strength, it comes out to slap you. A little bit of water gets it under control nicely and you’re left with a super fruity whisky. Champagne grapes and bosc pears are the main notes here. There’s even a bit of a tingly sensation on the tongue, as if it were carbonated, which makes it almost feel like a nice champagne instead of whisky.
Finish: Fairly long. Champaign grapes and green grapes are the main notes. That tingly sensation of carbonation sticks around and a hint of smoke comes through as well.
Conclusion: Millburn, Inverness’ oldest distillery that has since been turned into a Premier Inn, has been a curiosity for me especially given how much /u/paulusgaming raves about it (and Coleburn). This bottling is the second I’ve had following a Rare Malts Millburn that was quite exquisite and I had high hopes for this one. While this Millburn is still quite fruity, the fruit comes out in a very intense and tasty fresh fruit form instead of the various jam notes. Unfortunately, I’m left wishing for depth and complexity here in the end. It does come off as a two-note wonder that is tasty but not quite there.
Final Score: 82.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 
