Farm distillery Daftmill is steadily bringing out more summer / winter releases, coinciding with the farms quiet seasons. It’s made with Concerto barley grown and harvested on their estate, and matured in 23 first-fill bourbon barrels,
Daftmill 12 yo 2012 – Summer Batch Release (46%, OB 2025, first-fill bourbon casks, 5250 btl.)
Nose: fruity and elegant, with this typical waxy edge. Very consistent. Ripe pears and green apples, hints of banana and lemon candy. Also melon sherbet. Then creamy vanilla and bright top notes of lemongrass and subtle jasmine. A subtle chalky note in the distance.
Mouth: same round fruitiness, with plenty of pears, apples and melons, along with a hint of papaya this time. Subtle chalky / waxy notes. Then some malty biscuits, lemon zest, vanilla and a pinch of white pepper. A few crushed mint leaves as well.
Finish: medium length, on lemony notes, fresh oak and slightly grassy green tea.
Another classic example of their elegant, light and fruity style. Better than how I remember the 2011 Summer release although they’re always close together. Fairly predictable, pristine spirit with a fairly high price. Available from Royal Mile Whiskies or The Whisky Exchange for instance.