Miltonduff 12 Year Old (1980s Edition)
75cl / 43%
£179.00
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Speyside
- Chilfiltered: Yes
Tasting Notes
Soft sherry influence with dried fruits, almonds, and a hint of old leather.
Rounded and smooth with malty sweetness, spice, and subtle oak.
Medium length, warming, with lingering dried fruit and a touch of pepper.
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Classic 1980s Miltonduff 12, 40% and Speyside-gentle, from the era when distillery-badged malts were still relatively uncommon.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Miltonduff Distillery, near Elgin, Speyside, Scotland |
| Category | Single malt Scotch whisky |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | 12 Years Old / Bottled c. 1980s |
| ABV & Size(s) | 40% ABV, 75cl for some export markets, 70cl for UK/Europe |
| Cask / Treatment | Refill and ex-bourbon Speyside maturation typical of the period; exact cask details not stated by the producer |
| Natural Colour | Not stated by the producer |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Not stated by the producer (likely filtered) |
| Cask Strength | No |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Not stated by the producer (regular distillery bottling of the era) |
| Intended channel | Specialist/independent retailers, export |
| Packaging | 1980s-style carton or bottle-only with period label |
| Notes on discrepancies | Must not be confused with later G&M or independent Miltonduff 12s; label style tells the era |
Historical Context
In the 1980s Miltonduff was better known as a workhorse Speyside distillery feeding blends (including Ballantine’s) than as a single malt. Some 12-year-old distillery-presented bottles were issued for export and specialist retail to ride the growing interest in single malts. These were usually 40%, light in style and presented in modest cartons. Today they are interesting as snapshots of pre-modern Miltonduff.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
Documented/likely variants
-
12yo, 40%, 70cl, 1980s distillery label.
-
12yo, 40%, 75cl, export (common in 1980s).
-
Independent-bottled 12yo around the same time (different label, not this one).
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40% | 75cl | 1980s export | Tall bottle, 75cl, classic 80s graphics | Slightly higher for collectors |
| 40% | 70cl | UK/EU | Same label style, 70cl | Core |
| 40% | 70cl (indie) | 1980s | Bottler name prominent | Parallel, bottler-dependent |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
-
Bottle should clearly say “Miltonduff” and “12 Years Old”.
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Strength 40% (occasionally 43% exists in other bottlings, but 40% is the safe default here).
-
Check level: 1980s bottles can show some evaporation; describe if below high shoulder.
-
Carton, if present, should match the era and is a value booster.
Liquid Profile
-
Nose: Light malt, pear drops, honey, gentle hay and vanilla.
-
Palate: Smooth, slightly oily for 40%, cereal-sweet, soft oak, a bit of citrus.
-
Finish: Medium-short, clean, malty, faint spice.
-
With water: Not necessary.
Sourcing
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Target: 1980s label, 40%, 70cl or 75cl, high fill, carton if possible.
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Avoid: heavy evaporation, relabelled indie bottlings sold as distillery original.
-
Buy mid-50s, list 90–110 if presentation is strong.
