Miltonduff
A Quiet Giant
Despite its relative obscurity, Miltonduff in Speyside is a large distillery – among the Chivas Brothers group of distilleries second only to the Glenlivet in the scale of its production. Located close to Pluscarden Abbey, six miles south-west of Elgin, it dates back to 1824 and is thought to have been constructed on the site of the abbey’s meal mill.
Two Speyside single malts have been produced at the the distillery: ‘Miltonduff’ and Mosstowie. Miltonduff is an unpeated style bottled as a 10- and 12-year-old expression (NB: most of these bottlings precede Chivas ownership). Mosstowie is a peated style. Production of Mosstowie single malt ceased in 1981 when the Lomond stills used for its production were removed. These malts in particular have become collectible.
In addition, a number of independent bottlings remain in circulation – among them a 10-year-old and a 15-year-old released by Gordon & MacPhail; and a 22-year-old released by Douglas Laing. In 2017 Miltonduff was released as a 15-year-old expression under the Ballantine’s brand. In addition, Chivas has released a limited-edition 18-year-old cask-strength bottling.
