Miltonduff 39 years 1978 Cadenhead's Bourbon Hogshead - One of 204 - bottled 2018 Authentic Collection (Brown)

Scotland, Speyside. Distillery dismantled.

Like the Glenburgie distillery, and under the aegis of the Canadian company Hiram Walk, Miltonduff was equipped with a pair of Lomond stills in 1964. 17 years later (1981), in the midst of economic crisis, the stills were removed, bringing the existence of Mosstowie to a premature end. Designed to increase the choice available to master blenders without having to build new distilleries, this type of practice fizzled out due to the economic climate and the difficulties associated with maintaining this type of equipment. The single malts were bottled primarily by independent bottlers, the oldest and rarest versions in Italy (Sestante), the vintages 1970, 1975 and 1979 by Gordon & MacPhail, and the 1973, 1978 and 1979 versions by Signatory Vintage.

A Miltonduff single cask distilled in 1978, matured in a bourbon cask and bottled in 2018 for the Authentic Collection. Cadenhead's was founded in Aberdeen in 1842 by George Duncan. William Cadenhead then joined the company and, when George Duncan died in 1858, took over and renamed the business after himself. William’’s nephew Roberth Duthie developed the company in the early 20th century and it remained a family business until 1969. William Cadenhead Ltd was then sold to the Springbank distillery’’s owner J. & A. Mitchell and Co. Hedley G. Wright, a direct descendent of Archibald and John Mitchell, became William Cadenhead Ltd’’s CEO. In the past, Cadenhead had mainly sold its own brands, such as Putachieside, The Hielanman, Seven Stars and Green Label rums. Under Hedley G. Wright, the company began to take more of an interest in single malts. This led to the creation of the legendary collection of dumpy bottles in 1977. This series of single malts stood out for its very gentle filtration, lack of artificial colouring, and relatively high bottling strength for the time (80 proof/45.7% ABV). The labels included lots of information, including the month and year of distillation and bottling, and whether or not sherry casks were used. Also in 1977, the business moved to another address in Aberdeen, and finally to Campbeltown. In the 1980s, Cadenhead sold casks to legendary bottlers such as Samaroli and Corti Brothers through the subsidiary Duthie’’s. Finally, two new whisky ranges were created in 1991 and 1992, the Original Collection bottled at 46% and the Authentic Collection bottled at cask strength. Other special series to mark Cadenhead’’s major anniversaries (150 and 175 years), as well as new ranges launched since (Small Batch, World Whiskies, etc.), have all contributed to the company’’s ongoing history up to the present day. A limited edition of 204 bottles.