Daftmill Inaugural Release 13 Years Old 2005

Daftmill from the distillery, a 13 year old, from 2005, cask 05/02, 05/03 & 05/07, at 55.8%, 629 bottles in all. Daftmill is a delicate, fruity Lowland single malt from a farm distillery in the heart of Fife. Maturation is mostly in ex-Bourbon casks, with a little sherry, in a dunnage warehouse on the farm.

It was run through the distillery's small copper stills, giving the delicate, floral Lowland spirit. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla over the delicate spirit. By the integrating teens the spirit rounds out, ethyl esters building a clean orchard fruit over the grassy malt. Long ageing turns the fresh lemon towards honey, apple and a soft spice. The cool Lowland air gives a slow, even maturation in the farm dunnage warehouse. The distillery runs only seasonally, in the quiet weeks of summer and winter between sowing and harvest. Years in oak round the spirit, the grass and citrus deepening to honey and orchard fruit.

At a natural 55.8% it is full and honeyed. Apple, honey and a floral lift, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft orchard fruit and a floral honey sit behind the cask. The finish is clean, delicate and fruity. This is Daftmill's delicate, floral Lowland style.