{"product_id":"nss-obscurities-curiosities-milton-duff-13-year-px-octave","title":"NSS - Obscurities \u0026 Curiosities - Miltonduff 13 Year - PX Octave","description":"\u003cstyle\u003e\n  .twl-desc { max-width: 980px; margin: 0 auto; line-height: 1.65; font-size: 16px; color: #111; }\n  .twl-desc h1 { margin: 0; font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.15; font-weight: 800; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.02em; text-align: center; }\n  .twl-subhead { margin: 10px 0 0 0; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 750; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.08em; text-align: center; color: #9a5f28; }\n\n  .twl-pills { margin-top: 14px; text-align: center; }\n  .twl-pill {\n    display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 6px;\n    border: 1px solid #ddd8d0; background: #f5f2ec;\n    border-radius: 999px; padding: 6px 10px; margin: 4px;\n    font-size: 13px;\n  }\n  .twl-pill strong { font-weight: 800; color: #9a5f28; }\n\n  .twl-lead { margin-top: 18px; font-size: 17px; }\n  .twl-lead p { margin: 0 0 12px 0; }\n\n  .twl-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 14px; margin-top: 18px; }\n  .twl-card { border: 1px solid #ddd8d0; border-radius: 14px; padding: 14px; background: #fff; }\n  .twl-card h3 { margin: 0 0 10px 0; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 800; color: #1a1a18; }\n  .twl-card p { margin: 0 0 10px 0; font-size: 14px; color: #374151; }\n  .twl-card ul { margin: 0; padding-left: 18px; color: #111; }\n  .twl-card li { margin: 0 0 8px 0; }\n\n  .twl-card--dark { background: #080910; border-color: #080910; }\n  .twl-card--dark h3 { color: #b87333; }\n  .twl-card--dark p { color: #d0ccc4; }\n  .twl-card--dark strong { color: #f5f2ec; }\n\n  .twl-tasting { margin-top: 18px; border: 1px solid #ddd8d0; border-radius: 14px; overflow: hidden; background: #fff; }\n  .twl-tasting-head { padding: 12px 14px; font-weight: 800; font-size: 14px; background: #080910; color: #f5f2ec; }\n  .twl-row { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 110px 1fr; gap: 12px; padding: 10px 14px; border-top: 1px solid #f1f5f9; }\n  .twl-row:nth-child(even) { background: #f5f2ec; }\n  .twl-label { font-weight: 800; color: #9a5f28; }\n  .twl-val { color: #374151; }\n\n  .twl-spec { margin-top: 18px; border: 1px solid #ddd8d0; border-radius: 14px; overflow: hidden; }\n  .twl-spec table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }\n  .twl-spec th { text-align: left; padding: 12px 14px; background: #080910; color: #f5f2ec; border-bottom: 1px solid #080910; font-size: 13px; }\n  .twl-spec td { padding: 12px 14px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eae6df; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: top; }\n  .twl-spec tr:nth-child(even) td { background: #f5f2ec; }\n  .twl-spec tr:nth-child(odd) td { background: #ffffff; }\n  .twl-spec tr:last-child td { border-bottom: 0; }\n  .twl-spec td:first-child { font-weight: 600; color: #1a1a18; }\n  .twl-spec td:last-child { color: #374151; }\n\n  @media (max-width: 749px) {\n    .twl-desc h1 { font-size: 26px; }\n    .twl-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }\n    .twl-row { grid-template-columns: 90px 1fr; }\n  }\n\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-desc\"\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eOBSCURITIES \u0026amp; CURIOSITIES MILTONDUFF 13 YEAR OLD, PX SHERRY OCTAVE\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-subhead\"\u003eA USA EXCLUSIVE, HAND-PICKED FROM A FLIGHT OF OCTAVES\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-pills\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"twl-pill\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion\u003c\/strong\u003e Speyside\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"twl-pill\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDistillery\u003c\/strong\u003e Miltonduff\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"twl-pill\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge\u003c\/strong\u003e 13 years\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"twl-pill\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eABV\u003c\/strong\u003e 55.6%\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"twl-pill\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCask\u003c\/strong\u003e 1st Fill PX Sherry Octave\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"twl-pill\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOutturn\u003c\/strong\u003e 60 bottles\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"twl-pill\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExclusive\u003c\/strong\u003e USA only\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-lead\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorth Star Spirits filled a handful of 50-liter PX sherry octaves with 2013 Miltonduff and let them sit. When the casks came due, we were in Glasgow and got to taste them side by side and pick to decide on what would leave Scotland. It was the first time The Whiskey Lab has been sat to chose between octaves from the same distillery, same distillation, same finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOctave casks do more work per liter than standard hogsheads. The wood-to-spirit ratio is higher, the integration is faster, the variation between casks is wider. That last point is the whole story. Four casks that looked identical on paper tasted nothing alike. One was tight and tannic. One was thin. One was promising but not there yet. The fourth was this one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDistilled 2013. Bottled April 2026. Single octave. Cask strength at 55.6%. Non-chill filtered. Natural color. 60 bottles. Available only in the United States through The Whiskey Lab. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-grid\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-card\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDistillery profile, Miltonduff\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFounded in \u003cstrong\u003e1824\u003c\/strong\u003e on the site of the former Pluscarden Abbey meal mill in Speyside, six miles southwest of Elgin.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOwned by \u003cstrong\u003eChivas Brothers\u003c\/strong\u003e (Pernod Ricard) since 2005. Miltonduff is one of the quiet workhorses of Speyside, producing malt primarily for Ballantine's blends.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSingle malt releases from Miltonduff are uncommon, and almost always come through independent bottlers. The house style is \u003cstrong\u003eclean, fruit-forward, and floral\u003c\/strong\u003e, with a grassy backbone that handles sherry finishes particularly well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA 13-year-old Miltonduff has had enough time to settle into its cask without losing the lightness that makes the distillate interesting. Perfect timing for an active PX octave.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-card twl-card--dark\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCask profile, 1st Fill PX Sherry Octave\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn octave is a 50-liter sherry cask, roughly one-eighth the size of a standard butt. The small volume creates an outsized amount of wood contact, which accelerates maturation and amplifies cask character. In a single-malt context, an octave finish or full-term octave maturation can do in a year what a hogshead might take three or four years to achieve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was a Refill\u003cstrong\u003e Pedro Ximénez octave\u003c\/strong\u003e, meaning the cask had been used twice before. Why would this be a good choice? A 1st fill octave can have a massive impact on the wood in weeks, going with a refill (or 3rd fill) allows for more time for the spirit to age gracefully in the octave. Octaves have a massive impact in a short amount of time, thus using a refill or 2nd fill can work beautifully with a fine spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePair that intensity with a small cask and 13-year-old Speyside spirit, and you get \u003cstrong\u003edepth without weight\u003c\/strong\u003e. Fig, date, cocoa, and coffee, but a palate that still moves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-tasting\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-tasting-head\"\u003eTasting notes\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-row\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-label\"\u003eNose\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-val\"\u003ePleasant sweetness of light fruit and sugar. No alcohol scent at all despite the 55.6% ABV, which is the first sign the cask is doing more than its share. Classic rich and dark fruit a PX cask typically gives. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-row\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-label\"\u003ePalate\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-val\"\u003eArrives silky and syrupy, coating the tongue with dark-fruit sweetness before the octave's spice takes over. Black raisin, prune, espresso, and a dusting of dark chocolate. The ABV delivers heat without burn, carrying the flavor through waves of sherry richness. Mid-palate shifts into baking spice, clove, and a resinous dark oak that reminds you there's serious wood at work.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-row\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-label\"\u003eFinish\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-val\"\u003eLong and layered. The sweet fruit fades first, then oak tannin and dark chocolate take over, finishing with a warm, spicy tingle that sits on the back of the palate for a good two minutes. A second sip pulls out more of the coffee and orange peel. This is a dram that rewards slowing down.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"twl-spec\"\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSpecification\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetails\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eObscurities \u0026amp; Curiosities (North Star Spirits)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWhisky style\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSingle malt Scotch whisky\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRegion\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpeyside\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDistillery\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMiltonduff\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAge\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e13 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eABV\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e55.6%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVolume\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e700 ml\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCask\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1st Fill PX Sherry Octave\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDistillation year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2013\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBottling date\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApril 2026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOutturn\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 bottles\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMarket\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSA exclusive, selected by The Whiskey Lab\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCask strength\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNon-chill filtered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNatural colour\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"The Whiskey Lab","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53360696033598,"sku":"TWL-NSS-MILT13-100023","price":130.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0912\/2221\/2926\/files\/Milton_Duff_13_Year.png?v=1777037235","url":"https:\/\/www.thewhiskeylab.com\/products\/nss-obscurities-curiosities-milton-duff-13-year-px-octave","provider":"The Whiskey Lab","version":"1.0","type":"link"}