Situated six miles southwest of Elgin is Pluscarden Abbey. Initially a Priory,it was founded by King Alexander II in 1230. Miltonduff is said to besituated on the site of the Abbey’s meal mill, two miles from the Abbey. A stone from the original Abbey is retained at the distillery. The Miltonduff distillery supplies the single malt component of the Ballantines Blended Scotch whisky.

All of the Miltonduff stills, three wash and three spirit, have the traditional, "onion" shape. They are approximately 15 foot high with the Lyne arm having a relatively steep drop at approximately 30°. The wash stills have a capacity of 18,000 litres and the spirit stills 17,500 litres. They are both charged with 17,000 litres. The wash distillation takes 5 hours and the spirit distillation 8 hours. The stills play their part in giving Miltonduff its desired character - flowery with hints of peat, heather and honey.

Colour: Light gold.

Without water

Nose: Soft esters with fruity aromas - red apples, followed by sweet fudge notes.

Palate: Cereal flavours with spicy and treacle notes.

With water

Nose: Fruity aromas - raisins with fragrant heather and cereal notes.

Palate: Sweet, fruity cereal flavours with a spicy edge and floral/freshly cut grass notes.

Body: Light and delicate.

Finish: Balanced, sweet and round.

Cask Type: First fill and refill Sherry casks.

Whisky Style: Easy drinking - soft flavours and a rounding sweetness.

Miltonduff distillary facts:

Malt Source: Kilgour/Munton
Malt Type: Various - Prisma, Derkado, Optic
Malt Storage: 8 Malt Bins, holding a total of250 tonnes
Mill Type: Porteus
Grist Storage: 1 Hopper, holding 15 tonnes
Mush Tun Construction: Stainless steel - semi-lauter
Mash Size: 14.5 tonnes
No. of Wash Backs: 18
Wash Back Construction: Stainless steel
Wash Back Capacity: 38,000 litres
Yeast: Brewers & Distillers
No of Wash Stills: 3
Wash Still Charge: 17,000 litres
Heat Source: External heat extraction
No. of Spirit Stills: 3
Spirit Still Charge: 17,000 litres
Heat Source: Steam kettle
Cask Storage Capacity: 54,000 casks
Current Annual Distillery Output: 3.5 million litres of alcohol.

In general the house style for the Miltonduff distillery tends to be: Flowery, clean, firm, elegant. Makes a fine fragrant after dinner dram.