Distillery
Millburn was a Scottish distillery located in the Highlands, in the city of Inverness. It was founded around 1807 and was among the oldest distilleries in the area. Although its history goes back deep into the 19th century, it has always remained a smaller and lesser-known distillery compared to some of Scotland's more famous distilleries.
It has undergone several rebuilds and upgrades throughout its existence. In 1921 it came into the ownership of Booth's Distillers, who operated it until 1937, when it became part of Distillers Company Limited (DCL), the predecessor of today's Diageo. Millburn was known for its whiskey with a rich malt and lightly smoked profile, which was prized both as a single malt and as part of a blended whisky.
Like many other smaller distilleries, Millburn fell into disrepair during the whiskey crisis of the 1980s. problems and was definitively closed in 1985. Part of the original buildings have been preserved and since 1990 have served as a restaurant and hotel, a fate that befell many former distilleries at this time.
Although the distillery is closed, Millburn whiskey appears from time to time in the form of independent bottlings that are sought after by both connoisseurs and collectors.
Bottle
Millburn 1975 is a 25-year-old single malt whisky, distilled in 1975 and bottled in October 2001 as part of the prestigious Rare Malts Selection range. This range presents a unique opportunity to taste whiskies from distilleries that no longer exist or those that do not typically produce single malt whisky. The whiskies are bottled at cask strength and without chill filtration, ensuring their authentic character.
Nose: Dominated by notes of apple puree, sandalwood, biscuits, and summer floral nuances. Hints of citrus, nuts, and subtle mineral accents create a lively and expressive bouquet.
Taste: Rich and full, with flavors of berry jam (blueberry, strawberry) and short pastry. When water is added, subtle butter notes and fine smoke develop on the palate. Fruit notes like kiwi and mango are also characteristic, along with a hint of peat or earthy minerals.
Finish: Long and full, with a predominant sweetness of berry notes and a light smokiness that gently blends with woody undertones.
The auctioned bottle is numbered 2281, and as it comes from the now-closed Millburn distillery, it is highly sought after by whisky enthusiasts and collectors.
