Millstone French Oak Review

“Not the Ideal Marriage” 

Country: The Netherlands

Brand: Millstone French Oak

Type: Pot Still Malt Whisky 

Age: 10 Years 

ABV: 40 %

Colour: Dark Golden

Nose: Sweet with New Oak, Varnish, Butterscotch, Vanilla, Orange Marmalade, light Honey, Nut Shells, Dried Apricot, Pencil Shavings, Toffee, light Spices and light Floral tones. It's okay but not overly exciting.

Palate: Malt, Toffee, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Oak, light Honey, light Menthol, Orange, light Varnish, Salted Butter, Nutmeg, Pepper and Cinnamon. 

Finish: Middle-Long, Fruity, Spicy and Bitter-Sweet with Oak, Vanilla, Orange Peel, Buttered Toast, Nutmeg, Pepper, Cinnamon, Licorice, Menthol, Varnish and a little Salt.

I added a bit of Water and on the Nose you get more Vanilla and Floral Soapy tones. A little more Fruit in the Finish as well. You can experiment with a few drops at a time.

Rating: 82

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

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 10 Years I'm tasting today was actually distilled on February 26, 1999, matured in French Oak Casks and was bottled on the 21st of August 2013. That's 14, 5 Years! The ABV of 40% is lower than the 43%, Zuidam is using today. My 200 ML bottle hails from Cask # 351. On average you will pay around 60 US Dollars for the 10 Year old Millstone French Oak, bottled at 43%.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: Although there's nothing specifically wrong, the French Oak is not my favourite Millstone. It's not a subtle whisky and the Oak and Oak Spices are quite present. I prefer the 12 Year Sherry Cask anytime. The Sherry Cask is similar to Sherried Speyside Whisky while the French Oak has all the main characteristics of a European mainland Whisky with Oak, Vanilla and Spices as the main drivers. So while the French Oak is not a bad Single Malt, I don't find it sufficiently interesting to enjoy on a regular basis. Look forward to try the 1999 Special # 1 PX Cask who has just been nominated Best European Single Malt Whisky in the 13-20 Years category. Well done Millstone! It looks like Zuidam Spirit and Ex-Sherry Casks were made for each other. Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                       April 2, 2015

New Casks Arriving at Zuidam (Photo credit: Zuidam Distillery) 

Millstone 100 Rye Review

“We're Almost There”

Country: The Netherlands

Brand: Millstone 100 Rye

Type: Small Pot Still Rye Whisky 

Age: 8 Years

ABV: 50 %

Colour: Chestnut

Nose: The Alcohol is strong so you'll have to nose your way around it. There is quite a bit going on here. I find Sour Rye-Bread, Chocolate-Milk (Chocomel), Oak in the form of Pencil Shavings, Butterscotch, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Varnish, 
Menthol, Grass, Aniseed, Citrus Peel, Mashed Bananas and Peach Preserves. Not many people would recognise this as a Dutch Whisky in a Blind Tasting and for the time being that's a compliment!

Palate: Quite Strong and Spicy Delivery with Rye Bread, Caramel, Vanilla, Mint, Lemon, Ginger, Brown Sugar, Pepper, Cinnamon, New Oak and Varnish.

Finish: Middle Long and Spicy with New Oak, slightly Bitter Almonds, Ginger Ale, Mint, Pepper, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon, Varnish and Buttered Toast.

I added a bit of Water but that does not improve this Millstone 100 Rye. 

Rating: 83.5

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21 

New Pot Stills at Zuidam Distillery

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 Rye Whisky, Zuidam also produces Malt Whisky, Gin, Rum, Genever and Liqueurs. The name Millstone derives from the Windmills that are used by Zuidam to mill the Malted Barley. The sample that I'm tasting today does not mention any specific data but I'm pretty sure it was bottled in 2013. The 100 stands for 100% Rye, maturation of a 100 Months in 100% new American Oak Casks and bottling at 100 Proof. It's not cheap at around 70 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: First of all I would like to congratulate Zuidam on this Rye Whisky as it's one of the very few made outside the USA. And on the Nose it can most certainly compete with its American brothers. On the Palate and in the Finish however I'm not too fond of the Young Oak and Varnish Tones. Perhaps eight years in New American Oak is a bit too much. I wonder what would happen if you would mature this Spirit in a Mix of New - and Refill American Oak. In any case, the Millstone 100 Rye is a good, albeit quite expensive Dutch product. And I'm pretty sure that future Rye expressions will be even better. So I will end with a song that Andy Williams sang a long time ago: "We're Almost There" 

Jan van den Ende                                                          November 5, 2014 

 Rye 

Millstone 12 Years Review

“A Dutchman with a Scottish Accent”

Country: The Netherlands

Brand: Millstone Sherry Cask

Type: Single Pot Still Malt Whisky 

Age: 12 Years

ABV: 46 %

Colour: Mahogany

Nose: Sweet, Spicy and Waxy, not unlike one of those famous Scottish Whisky Cakes. I find Dried Fruit (Raisins, Plums), Nuts, Black Currants, Malt, Mixed Citrus Peel, Espresso Coffee, Butter Kekse (German Butter Biscuits), Vanilla, Milk Chocolate, Banana Shake, Cinnamon, Cloves, slightly Sour Apple Vinegar, Relatively New Oak and Dusty Shelves. The Millstone 12 opens up slowly so give it sufficient time in the glass. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. The Millstone 12 Years Sherry Cask has won some medals and I can see why. The Nose is roughly similar to Sherried Speysiders and it's one of the best Non-Scottish Noses I have encountered so far.
  

Palate: Sweet and Spicy with lots of Orange, Red Grapes, Banana, Raisins, Nuts, light Honey, Caramel, Cinnamon, Pepper and hints of Espresso Coffee and Sherry. 

Finish: Middle-Long, Sweet and Spicy at first but a bit Sour and Bitter after a While. I find Orange, Oak, Wax, Vanilla, Nuts, Cinnamon, Pepper and Clove.

I added a bit of Water and on the Nose you will get Honey and more Malt, Buttered Cake, Black Currants and Berries. Palate and Finish do not benefit from added Water.

Rating: 85

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21

New Pot stills at Zuidam (Picture: Zuidam Distillery)

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 12 Years I'm tasting today aged in Ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks. It was distilled in 1999 and bottled in 2012. On average you will pay 90 US Dollars for this Dutch Single Malt and that's not cheap.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: When I compare this 12 Year Sherry Cask to the younger Millstone expressions it goes without saying that the 12 Years wins a lot of Depth and Complexity, especially on the Nose. On the other hand the Oak tends to take control over the Spirit. This is quite clear on the Palate where Orange and Spice are the dominant Flavours. I would like to see a bit more Balance here. The Finish is the slightly weaker part of this Millstone. I could do without the Bitter and Sour elements. But all in all this is a very good effort by Zuidam. In my view they are way ahead of most of the European Whisky Distillers, excluding the United Kingdom. I would not go that far to state that the Millstone 12 Years Sherry Cask is comparable to the likes of Aberlour and company. But I am sure that this Dutch distillery will get there some day!

Jan van den Ende                                                        September 6, 2014