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Day 17 - KWM 2025 This Is Still Not An Advent Calendar

Posted on December 18, 2025

by Evan

Daftmill represents a new generation of Lowland Malt distilleries. In the year 2000, there were only two Single Malt producing operations left in the region: Auchentoshan, and Glenkinchie. Bladnoch was still around, but not really in production at the time. Rosebank had fallen during the 1980s whisky glut. So had Littlemill, which had much of its stills and copper stolen in the 1990s. St. Magdalene/Linlithgow closed in 1983 as well.

There had been more grain distilleries than malt distilleries operating in the Lowlands during this time as well. The largest distillery in the UK and perhaps Europe is Cameronbridge (Johnnie Walker, J&B, Haig Club) in Fife. Girvan is owned by William Grant & Sons (Grant’s, Famous Grouse) and operates in South Ayrshire. Strathclyde (Chivas Regal, Ballantines) is in Glasgow. And North British is in Edinburgh.

Times have changed over the last two decades for the Lowlands though. Here is a list of operating Lowland Distilleries that have opened this millennium:

Lengthy, isn’t it? There may be a few news ones missing despite my attempt at being comprehensive.

As you can see, Daftmill was the first single malt distillery to open in the region this century. Founded and opened in 2005 by brothers Francis and Ian Cuthbert, Daftmill is about as close as you can find to a traditional farm distillery operated in modern times. It is extremely small production. Seriously – it makes Springbank seem like a gargantuan whisky making factory in comparison. The Daftmill distillery only operates when the Daftmill farm itself does not require full time work and upkeep. Daftmill produces spirit during to two short distilling seasons every year – one in the summer around June and July and the other in winter between November and February.

The upside of this small scale production is that the distillery can rely on using only barley grown on the Cuthberts' own farmland. It also means that the Cuthberts' do not rely on the distillery for all of their income. Francis Cuthbert has never been in a hurry to release Daftmill Whisky, and customers have not had to support a Daftmill Gin or Vodka as they anxiously waited for some immature whisky to be put out on the market. This has paid off tremendously for whisky lovers, as most Daftmill releases are between 12 and 15 years old.

The releases are not large, of course, and they are also sparse. There is no standard, always available bottling from the distillery yet, but a summer batch release and winter batch release are now put out annually and feature whisky distilled from a single vintage. There is also an occasional 15 year old high proof release. The currently available version of that is the Daftmill 15 Year Old Fife Strength, and is bottled at 56.3%.

To put this in perspective: Kilchoman Distillery on Islay started operations at nearly the same time as Daftmill – in December 2005. However, Kilchoman is much more prolific for whisky releases. Kilchoman was putting out releases just about as soon as they had 3 year old Single Malt Scotch. The Islay distillery’s Inaugural release came out in September 2009. Daftmill’s inaugural release – a 12 year old – was not put out until June 2018.

So, there isn’t much Daftmill produced, but when you do find a bottle of it, it is not an immature young whisky by any means.

YouTube Link - vPub Live - An Evening with Francis Cuthbert & Daftmill

From vPub Live - Youtube interview with Daftmill’s Francis Cuthbert

Style-wise, Daftmill’s whisky is generally soft and ester driven with plenty of fruity and floral notes. This is both thanks to very long fermentations (often 100+ hours), and the chosen cut on their slow spirit runs. The whisky produced is laid down primarily in first fill ex-Bourbon barrels, but first fill Sherry Hogsheads and Butts have also been used. In regards to first fill – ALL casks maturing Daftmill have been first fill for the most part. The only refill casks Daftmill has started to us have been from dumping their own casks to bottle and then refilling them.

Daftmill 2011 Summer Batch Release  - 46%

“The barley variety Publican was grown in the 43ac field and harvested by John and Sandy on the 28th & 29th August 2009. It was then dried and stored on the farm to be malted in Alloa during the summer of 2010. The twenty-seven first-fill barrels, which had previously been used to mature bourbon from Clermont Springs distillery in Kentucky, were matured on the upper level of our dunnage warehouse. They were filled in June, July and August 2011 and bottled in September 2023.”

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: honeyed, nutty, and malty with crisp bright fruits; thick with clotted cream, and creamed honey; juicy orange and lemon, Granny Smith apples, and pineapple upside-down cake; add in melons and apricot jam; almond paste croissants and macadamia nut butter; chewy malt and a soft farm fresh cheesy funk.

Palate: thick, creamy, and decadent with chewy malt and loads of soft fruits; Five Alive, baked pineapple, candy apple, and dried apricot; orange peel, lemon oil, and overripe honeydew melon; quite nutty, Marcona almonds, more almond paste filled croissants too, and macadamia nut butter; polished church pews, and soft oak spices; more late cheesy tones, moist cheddar scones complemented with creamed honey and clotted cream.

Finish: big, nutty, and fruity with a long, decadent, and creamy finish.

Comment: another banger from Daftmill; juicy, malty, nutty, and decadent; an honest and transparent malt, fitting given where it came from!

Evan’s Tasting Note

Nose: Did they distill this yet? Full of grain and malt so fresh it might still be in the field or at the malters. Notes of honeysuckle, elderflower, banana cream pie, Juicy Fruit gum, vanilla ice cream, baked apples, and so much more.

Palate: Full of sweet pastry and soft, delicate fruits notes. Apple pie a la mode, Banana milkshake, vanilla wafers, chocolate eclair, crème brulee, Ovaltine, and chamomile tea.

Finish: Soft, fresh and floral, and surprisingly lengthy

Comment: From just about any other distillery, this style of whisky would come off as boring and run-of-the-mill. Daftmill - likely thanks to its grain source being close in both hand and heart - makes it magical.

Daftmill manages an au natural style of whisky that only a handful of distilleries manage to pull off. Springbank comes to mind. As does Ardnamurchan. I can’t think of another at this tier off the top of my head – it is a short list.

Cheers,

Evan

evan@kensingtonwinemarket.com

 

This entry was posted in Whisky, Tastings, Whisky Calendars, Distillery, Tastings - Online Tasting, KWM 2025 Still Not An Advent Calendar Tastings

 

 

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