Miltonduff 12 Year Old Sezante Pluscarden Valley 43% 1980s Bottling

Possibly due to the short maturation and dilution, it had a stronger old character but was still delicious. Miltonduff MILTONDUFF 12yo SESTANTE PLUSCARDEN VALLEY 43% 1980s Bottling The aroma had a slightly stronger old character, with dried shiitake mushrooms, caramel, ripe oranges, plum jam, dusty soil, black tea, diluted black honey, soft barley. Upon drinking, it starts with a soft mouthfeel and expands into the sweet-sourness of plum jam, a gentle richness, nuances that seep into the tongue, and a calm, pleasant aftertaste. [Good/Very Good] This is a Miltonduff bottled by Sezante under the name Pluscarden Valley in the 1980s. I have had many instances of the 12-year-old Miltonduff in cask strength, but this one was a diluted version. Particularly in the aroma, I felt a stronger old character with some roughness and dustiness, but there were also notes of ripe fruits, jam-like qualities, and nuances reminiscent of black honey. When drinking it, there was indeed an old-style texture that seeps in, with a gentle richness and umami, making it enjoyable. In other bottlings from Sezante around the same time, high-proof versions rarely showed any roughness or twistiness, but it seems that short-matured diluted malts are more prone to aging changes. Depending on personal preference, this bottle might have been the limit of what I could enjoy as someone who likes old character.