Dufftown 17 Years Old 1997 Cask #19499 (Best of Whisky)

A 17 year old Dufftown from the bottler Best of Whisky, distilled in 1997, from cask 19499, bottled at 46%, one of 205 bottles. Dufftown, owned by Diageo, is a workhorse Speyside distillery and the home of the Singleton of Dufftown. It became the heart of the Bell's blend after Arthur Bell and Sons bought it in 1933.

It was distilled from unpeated Speyside malt in the distillery's six stills, giving the smooth, approachable Speyside spirit. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a light vanilla and a soft honey. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (apple and pear) and a nutty depth. The slow distillation gives a smooth spirit that takes well to the cask. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation in the Dufftown warehouses. The clean, grassy spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and honey to the fore. The town of Dufftown holds the highest concentration of distilleries in Scotland.

At 46% it is malty, nutty and smooth. A smooth, fruity sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a soft oak give it depth. A smooth, malty finish ends on apple and a soft spice. This is the workhorse malt of Dufftown.