Mosstowie is a rather unknown ‘distillery’. I quote-unquoted that, since its not really a distillery, its more a brand. Mosstowie was the spirit distilled in Miltonduff’s Lomond Stills. Nowadays, Miltonduff creates only pot still whisky since the Lomond Still were removed in 1981. Until last year, spirit distilled in a Lomond Still could still be named Single Malt whisky, but the SWA (Scotch Whisky Association) had that changed, to much unhappiness from the people at Loch Lomond.

Nose:
A bit salty with some licorice, wet grass and leaves on the forest floor in autumn. A bit musty, damp and earthy I mean by that. There is also a bit of American oak in there, but rather old casks I guess. Quite sharp.

Taste:
The taste was a big surprise for me with full vanilla and coconut, dark chocolate, while still being light and grassy. Highly unusual to me.

Finish:
The flavours of a good bourbon cask are apparent with vanilla, some lemon and a little less coconut than in the taste. There is also some spicyness in there. Cinnamon maybe.

Its a bit of an odd one, this Mosstowie. I expected the saltiness since I encountered that before in Mosstowie. The rest of the flavours are mainly created by the cask influencing the whisky inside. The grassiness was a nice contrast to the chocolate and vanilla flavours. There is just this strange balance between the smells of the whisky and the taste of it. Not that either of those is bad, but you just don’t expect this taste after nosing it.

Mosstowie 32, 1975-2008, 48.5%, Duncan Taylor Rarest of the Rare. Samples are available at Pats Wine and Whisky in Groningen.

Nose: 8
Taste: 8
Finish: 7
Overal experience: 8
Price/quality: +1

Total: 32 points