Mosstowie

Mosstowie was a Scotch whisky produced at Miltonduff distillery in Speyside, Scotland. The distillery lies six miles from the town of Elgin in the glen of the black burn. 

Mosstowie was produced using Lomond stills that were installed in 1964. Production ceased when the stills were replaced in 1981. 

The Mosstowie spirit was lighter than the standard Miltonduff. It was sweet and grassy with gentle spice. Some expressions had a soft smoky taste, thanks to the use of lightly peated grain. Other common tasting notes include caramel, butterscotch and apple. 

Lomond stills were pioneered by Alistair Cunningham, a chemical engineer that worked for Hiram Walker.

Cunningham's design looked like a traditional pot with a cylindrical column in place of the swan neck. Rectifying plates inside the column could be adjusted to alter the character of the spirit. Setting the plates in a horizontal position would maximise reflux. Setting them vertically would have the opposite effect.

Hiram Walker installed Lomond stills at several of their distilleries including Inverleven, Glenburgie, Scapa and Miltonduff. The upgrade gave their distillers the ability to create the varying styles required for their blends.

Mosstowie wasn't bottled as a single malt until after production ceased. Since then, there have been several expressions from independent bottlers. Gordon & MacPhail, for example, released a cask strength 1979 vintage to mark their 125th anniversary. The rare 40-year-old single malt retailed for £1,499.95. Other bottlings have come from the likes of Duncan Taylor and Signatory. 

Miltonduff was established in 1824. It was later sold to William Stuart, owner of Highland Park distillery in Orkney.  From there, the distillery passed through several owners before being taken over by Hiram Walker in 1936.

The new owner took charge at a difficult time. The early 20^th century saw falling sales compounded by War, Prohibition and the Great Depression. By the close of the Second World War, however, the British government began to encourage the return of distilling, hoping to pull in much-needed export revenue from the wealthy American market. 

Production of American whiskey ground to a halt during prohibition but Scotch was smuggled into the States in massive quantities. As a result, the spirit acquired a dedicated following and sales boomed when the war ended. Scottish distillers were soon struggling to keep up with demand.

Hiram Walker's Ballantine’s was among the best sellers but certain whiskies crucial to the recipe were in short supply. The decision was made to install Lomond stills at several distilleries. The new equipment would allow the company to produce various styles and end its reliance on trade with other distillers.

Miltonduff was fitted with the new stills in 1964. Soon they were producing a whisky that became known as Mosstowie.

The boom didn't last long, however. The 1980s saw a rise in the popularity of white spirits like vodka and sales of Ballantine's fell. Hiram Walker was left without a market for Mosstowie. The stills were decommissioned in 1981 and replaced by a traditional pair.

Mosstowie was only in production for a short time and what little stocks remain must surely be dwindling. Nevertheless, it remains a fascinating chapter in the story of the Miltonduff distillery.