Collecting from a new distillery is an act of faith, and Daftmill appears to be one where that faith is rewarded. This farm distillery makes small quantities of scotch as it was made two centuries ago—an uncommonly traditional approach that strikes a chord with whisky enthusiasts. Brothers Francis and Ian Cuthbert built Daftmill Distillery on their farm in the Lowlands county of Fife in 2005 and started making whisky during the quieter spells in the agricultural year, in summer and winter. They installed a copper-topped semi-lauter tun, two stainless steel washbacks, and a pair of modest-sized copper pot stills. They source no malt from external suppliers, instead relying only on what’s harvested from their own land.
There was a flurry of excitement from collectors when Daftmill started production, as few new distilleries were opening in Scotland at the time. In fact, it was Fife’s first new distillery in over 100 years. But the Cuthberts stayed quiet but busy for a decade, managing to fill about 100 casks a year.
In 2018 Daftmill offered its first release—629 bottles of a cask strength 12 year old single malt matured in first-fill bourbon barrels—too few bottles to meet the demand of eager enthusiasts. Auction houses were soon getting bottles from flippers, who sensed the market conditions would likely reward them handsomely.
The inaugural release, rated 91 points, remains one of the most valuable Daftmill bottlings at auction, with Scotch Whisky Auctions holding the record for this expression with a bid of $3,779 placed in November 2021. Daftmill made its U.S. debut in 2019 with a 2006 vintage Summer Release aged for 12 years in bourbon barrels, which was rated 90 points. Winter and summer U.S.-exclusive releases have followed.
Since that first offering, around 10,000 bottles of Daftmill have been consigned to auction, predominantly in Scotland. Small numbers of bottles are appearing at auction in the U.S., with Unicorn Auctions being the best place to look. Whisky Auctioneer holds the distillery’s auction record for the sale of a Daftmill 2008 matured single barrel No. 68. This was bottled for Independent Whisky Bars of Scotland, an affiliation of drinking establishments including Fiddler’s in Drumnadrochit and The Bon Accord in Glasgow. These bottles were never destined for retail and were only sold by the dram at the constituent bars, but a bottle from each was auctioned to raise funds for the bars during the pandemic. The bottles for the Highlander Inn in Craigellachie, Dornoch Castle in Sutherland, and Ardshiel Hotel in Campbeltown sold for $5,931 each in May 2020.
Daftmill releases summer and winter batches, each aged over a decade, supplemented by single cask vintage releases and a cask strength 15 year old. It is scarce, and that situation seems unlikely to change. The Lowlands distillery scene, meanwhile, has been rejuvenated with the construction of new distilleries. Since Daftmill started, distilling has commenced at InchDairnie, Kingsbarns, Eden Mill, Lindores Abbey, and Leven in Fife.
With so many young releases on the market, scotch aficionados admire the Cuthberts' patience in waiting over 12 years before releasing their first whisky. With production volumes relatively fixed and bottles attracting collectors, new releases tend to sell out quickly. While many are acquired at face value, the secondary market is fed a steady diet of Daftmill expressions, making that one of the best places to find it. It’s rare for good reason, yet with its simple labels and packaging, it’s not aimed at collectors and much is consumed rather than hoarded. To many collectors, that only makes it more desirable.
