Daftmill Distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery located at Daftmill Farm in the Howe of Fife, in Scotland. Brothers Francis and Ian Cuthbert, sixth-generation owners of Daftmill Farm, converted the old mill buildings into a distillery. The distillery was granted a license in 2005, with the first spirit distilled on December 16, 2005. However, the distillery did not release its first whisky until 2018. Daftmill is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland, producing only around 100 casks per year. It is known as a true farm distillery because it grows its own barley and uses water from its own spring. The distillery operates only two months in the summer and two months in the winter, during the farm’s off-season, in a very traditional style. The name ‘Daftmill’ comes from the Daft Burn, a stream on the property that appears to run uphill due to an optical illusion. Daftmill Distillery releases its single malt Scotch whisky in seasonal batches, specifically during the summer and winter months. These releases are typically aged over a decade and are supplemented by single cask vintage releases and a 15-year-old cask strength edition. Let’s take a closer look at those seasonal releases, as we review four Daftmill from 2007 to 2010, with two Summer & two Winter editions.
Daftmill 2007 Winter Batch Release for Europe (2020) Review
The Daftmill 2007 Winter Batch Release for Europe is a Lowland single malt distilled on the 31st of December 2007 from Optic barley, and bottled in 2020 after 12 years of ageing. It is part of Daftmill Distillery’s seasonal releases, produced during the farm’s off-season. Bottled at 46% ABV, the Winter Batch was made from 7 First-fill Bourbon Barrels (numbers 047 to 053/2007) and yielded 1,690 bottles. It is still available from a few online shops in Germany and the Netherlands, for instance, but with a markup, as you would have to pay more than €229 for a bottle.
Colour:
Old gold.
Nose:
Neat: Floral notes appear first, followed by malty aromas. There’s lemon zest, vanilla, and buttery shortbread or Petit Beurre biscuits. After some time in the glass, hints of strawberry jam with a touch of chili pepper and ripe pears emerge.
Palate:
Neat: The palate starts fruity and spicy, with strawberry jam that has a stronger chili pepper kick than on the nose. Notes of grapefruit, pepper, lemon and orange peel, fresh herbs, and a bit of wood develop. Hazelnuts, pine needles, coffee, and black tea with lemon follow. The texture is oily.
Finish:
Pepper returns, along with a vegetal bitterness, artichoke, wood, and hints of chocolate. Medium length.
Comments:
The nose and palate offer pleasant fruitiness, though the spices and bitterness are perhaps a touch assertive, slightly overshadowing the other flavours.
Rating: 6.5/10
Daftmill 2008 Summer Batch Release for Export (2019) Review
The Daftmill 2008 Summer Batch Release for Export was distilled in the summer of 2008 and bottled in 2019, from seven first-fill ex-bourbon barrels (Casks 040, 046, 057, 059, 061, 063 and 064/2008). Bottled at 46% ABV, it is made from Optic barley grown in the South fields and harvested in the last week of August 2006, then stored on the farm to be malted in Alloa during the summer of 2007. Approximately 1,780 bottles of the Summer Batch were produced. It’s still available with a large markup (from €272 in Europe)
Colour:
Yellow gold.
Nose:
Neat: Peach, mango, and malt lead the way, giving it a fruity profile. There are also notes of foam banana candy, green apple, lemon, dry hay, honey, and pear. Pleasant, though it could be more intense.
Palate:
Neat: Oily and fruity with a good balance of sweetness. Vanilla, pears, apples, peach, and apricot come through, along with grapefruit, hay, and gentle spices. The fruitiness is complemented by a touch of woody bitterness and citrusy sourness.
Finish:
Warm and long, with wood spices, pepper, juicy orange, and a slight musty note.
Comments:
A nice, fruity, and summery whisky, the Daftmill 2008 Summer Batch would be a great option for everyday drinking if you could still find it at a decent price.
Rating: 6.5/10
Daftmill 2009 Summer Batch Release for Europe (2020) Review
The Daftmill 2009 Summer Batch Release for Europe is an 11-year-old bottled in 2020. It is made with Optic barley harvested in 2006. This batch is composed of whisky matured in three ex-bourbon barrels and one first-fill Oloroso sherry butt (casks 47, 48, 50, 52/2009). 1,785 bottles of this release were produced, filled at 46% ABV. Still available, around €145–150.
Colour:
Amber.
Nose:
Neat: The sherry cask influence is evident, bringing musty notes and a hint of sulphur. Overripe tropical fruits like banana, mango, and guava stand out, along with green apples, malt, and grassy aromas.
Palate:
Neat: Thick and sour on arrival, with green apple and spices. The texture is oily, followed by herbal notes, camphor, and some wood bitterness. Clove adds warmth, while oranges, lemon, and pears bring fruitiness. Feels slightly stronger than its 46% ABV.
Finish:
Spicy with mild bitterness, green apples, wood, and a light waxy touch. Medium-short length.
Comments:
Although this Daftmill 2009 Summer Batch includes just one sherry butt, its influence on the palate is minimal, but it does add a touch of sulphur and mustiness to the nose. Overall, it remains similar to the earlier editions reviewed, with some strengths and weaknesses in comparison. If you’re sensitive to sulphur, it might be a 6; if not, it could be a 7. Splitting the difference, I’d rate it 6.5.
Rating: 6.5/10
Daftmill 2010 Winter Batch Release (2023) Review
The Daftmill 2010 Winter Batch, a worldwide release of 6,550 bottles, was distilled from Publican barley harvested from the 43-acre field on August 28th and 29th, 2009. The barley was dried and stored on the farm before being malted in Alloa during the summer of 2010. The whisky matured in twenty-five first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, filled in November and December 2010, and stored in a dunnage warehouse until its 2023 bottling at 46% ABV. It is still available for around €140 in Europe and £120 in the UK.
Colour:
Pale gold.
Nose:
Neat: Despite being a winter batch, the aroma is filled with summer fruits like peach, nectarine, and apricot. There’s also malt, gooseberry jelly, tropical notes of pineapple, and a touch of honey.
Palate:
Neat: Gummy bears and tropical fruits lead the way, followed by custard, liquorice, plums, and apricots. Wood spices, pepper, and ginger add some warmth. The texture is chewy.
Finish:
Medium to long, with a focus on citrus fruits like lemon, lime, and grapefruit, giving it a slightly bitter and sour edge.
Comments:
Back to exclusively bourbon casks, this Daftmill 2010 Winter Batch is very good. It has a bright, summery nose and palate with a good mouthfeel, staying true to the Daftmill style but with a bit more character.
Rating: 7/10
Big thanks to Benoît & Nicolas. Bottle photos courtesy of Whiskybase as usual.
