Miltonduff distillery

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Miltonduff was, briefly, part of Allied Distiller’s Caledonian Malts range (alongside Laphroaig, Tormore, Scapa and Glendronach) but other than a limited edition 18-year-old cask strength bottling, no official releases have taken place under Chivas Brothers' ownership. Licensed bottlings are made under the auspices of Gordon & MacPhail. Some Mosstowie (see below) also occasionally surfaces.

In July 2017 Miltonduff was released as a 15-year-old single malt (alongside expressions from Glentauchers and Glenburgie) under the Ballantine’s brand. 

Map
  • Region
    Speyside
  • Production type
    Single malt
  • Distillery Status
    Working
  • Brands produced here
    Mosstowie
    Pluscarden Valley

Miltonduff History

One wonders what the monks would have made of it. Moonshining was commonplace in the surroundings of Pluscarden Abbey in the smuggling era of the late 18th and early 19th century. Whether any monastic distillation ever took place is unknown – the original monastery fell into ruin in the early 17th century, but was restored in 1948 and is now the only medieval monastery still inhabited by monks. Distillation certainly took place at Milton Farm where the abbey’s old meal mill once stood.

Miltonduff (the suffix comes from Duff family which owned the estate) went legal in 1824 and by the end of the century was one of the largest producers in Scotland, making in excess of one million litres a year and using triple distillation (an unusual technique for Highland/Speyside distilleries).

Its next landmark came in 1936 when it was bought by Canadian distiller Hiram Walker which was beginning its Scottish expansion (Ballantine’s, Dumbarton).

In 1964, a pair of ‘Lomond’ stills was installed, producing a malt which was named Mosstowie. The stills operated until 1981. A significant expansion in 1974 saw capacity increased to more than 5m litres per annum with three pairs of stills now operating. In 2005 it became part of Chivas Brothers. 

Timeline

  • 1824 A license to distil at Miltonduff is obtained by Andrew Peary and Robert Bain
  • 1866 The distillery is purchased by William Stuart
  • 1895 Thomas Yool & Co becomes a shareholder
  • 1936 Canadian group Hiram Walker buys Miltonduff
  • 1964 A pair of Lomond stills are installed and produce the Mosstowie brand of whisky
  • 1974 Capacity is increased to over 5m litres in a significant expansion
  • 1981 The Lomond stills are replaced by two pot stills
  • 1987 Allied Lyons, having bought 50% of Hiram Walker the previous year, purchases the group outright
  • 1991 Miltonduff appears in the Caledonian Malts line-up
  • 2005 Pernod Ricard (Chivas Brothers) takes over the distillery following its acquisition of Allied Domecq
  • 2017 Miltonduff 15-year-old single malt is released under the Ballantine's brand

Miltonduff Facts

  • Capacity (mlpa) i
    5.9
  • Condenser Type i
    Shell and tube. Each still has a sub cooler
  • Fermentation Time i
    Minimum 48hrs
  • Grist Weight (t) i
    8
  • Heat Source i
    Gas, steam via heat exchanger and thermocompression system
  • Malt Specification i
    Unpeated
  • Malt Supplier i
    Simpsons, Bairds
  • Mash Tun Material i
    Stainless Steel
  • Mash Tun Type i
    Lauter
  • New-make Strength i
    68-69%
  • Spirit Still Charge (l) i
    15,000
  • Spirit Still Shape i
    Onion
  • Spirit Still Size (l) i
    18,200
  • Stills i
    6 (3 wash, 3 spirit)
  • Wash Still Charge (l) i
    12,000
  • Wash Still Shape i
    Onion
  • Wash Still Size (l) i
    22,730
  • Washback Charge (l) i
    36,000
  • Washback Type i
    Stainless steel
  • Washbacks i
    16
  • Water Source i
    The Black Burn
  • Yeast Type i
    Mauri Liquid

Owners

Parent company

Current owner

Previous owners

Contact

Address
Mitonduff Distillery
Elgin
Moray
IV30 8TQ
United Kingdom
Phone
+44 1343 554120
Visitor Opening Hours
Not open to the public

Map

See also

  • GlenAllachie GlenAllachie GlenAllachie Distillery & brand

    GlenAllachie

    Delicate, fruity Speysider recently relaunched as a single malt whisky.

  • Glenburgie Glenburgie Glenburgie Distillery & brand

    Glenburgie

    Filling for Ballantine's blend.

  • The Glenlivet The Glenlivet The Glenlivet Distillery & brand

    The Glenlivet

    Globally popular Speyside single malt.

  • Glentauchers Glentauchers Glentauchers Distillery & brand

    Glentauchers

    A substantial granite distillery.

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