Daftmill Winter Batch Release 13 Years Old 2011

A 13 year old Daftmill, a distillery bottling, from 2011, at 46%, 7500 bottles in all. Daftmill is a cult Fife farm distillery, its small releases keenly sought after. Releases come as Summer and Winter batches, single casks and the odd cask strength bottling.

It was run through the distillery's small copper stills, giving the delicate, floral Lowland spirit. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding a light honeyed vanilla. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper green apple and pear. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the floral malt. Refill oak lets the delicate Daftmill character lead, lemon and green apple beneath. The light, elegant make is a model of the classic Lowland style. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and honey over a grassy citrus. Each small batch is laid down with patience, the whisky released only when ready.

Reduced to 46%, it is mellow. A light, floral fruitiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Lemon, pear and a soft honey fill the middle. The close is clean, fruit over a gentle oak. This is Daftmill, the cult farm distillery of Fife.