Millstone Peated 5 Years Review

Country: The Netherlands

Brand: Millstone Peated

Type: Single Malt Whisky 

Age: 5 Years

ABV: 40 %

Date: 03/02/2013

Colour: Golden Sunlight

Nose: The Peated Millstone 5 Years is quite similar to its unpeated brother. Both are different from your average Scotch Single Malt. In terms of style these Millstones are closer to some of their "cousins" from a/o Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Like in the unpeated version I find Oat Porridge with Butter and Milk, Light Oak, Apricot Marmalade, light Orange and Custard. In addition I find light Peat, very Soft Smoke, Coconut Milk, Dulce de Leche and Butterscotch. A very pleasant, rich and creamy Nose. The gentle Smoke blends in nicely with the other Aromas. It's remarkable that a Dutch Whisky shows so many Dairy aspects by the way!

Palate: Again, quite similar to the unpeated expression. It's a bit Thin but slightly Oily at the same time. Quite uncomplicated on the Palate with light Vanilla, Toffee, Coconut Milk, light Honey, light Oak, Citrus Peel, light Smoke and light Pepper

Finish: Rather Short and mainly Sweet with Butter, Pastry, Milk, Coconut Milk, light Wood, light Custard, light Pepper and only the slightest hint of Smoke. Dry towards the end. 

No need to add Water to this Millstone 5 years Peated.

Rating: 83

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 20.5

This is the More Recent Packaging of the Lightly Peated Expression

General Remarks: The Zuidam Distillery was founded in 1974 by Fred van Zuidam and his wife Helene and is currently run by their sons Patrick and Gilbert. It is located in Baarle-Nassau on the Dutch-Belgian border and is the only Distillery in The Netherlands that ferments, distills, ages and bottles at its own premises. Next to Malt Whiskies, Zuidam also produces Rye Whisky, Gin, Rum, Genever and Liqueurs. The name Millstone derives from the Windmills that are used by Zuidam to mill the Malted Barley. The Millstone 5 Years Peated is Double-Distilled and aged in a mix of New American White Oak and Refill Ex-Bourbon. Zuidam uses small Oak Casks and their storage in Warm and Dry Warehouses will guarantee a quicker maturation of the Whisky but also leads to a higher Angel Share of around 5% per year! The Peated Millstone sells at around 70 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: The Millstone Peated 5 Years is in fact a lightly Peated version of the standard 5 Years Expression. It only adds a subtle amount of Smoke that enhances the Nose but does little to change Palate and Finish. Maybe a slightly higher PPM would help to better distinguish this Millstone from its unpeated brother. Next month I will taste another expression of this promising Dutch Distillery!  

Jan van den Ende                                                      February 2014