Dufftown 26 Years Old 1982 Cask #18586 (Bladnoch Forum)

The bottler Bladnoch Forum bottled this Dufftown, a 26 year old, distilled in 1982, from cask 18586, bottled at 53.8%, one of 270 bottles. Dufftown is a Speyside malt built for the blender's art and now bottled as a single malt in its own right. It runs a full lauter mash tun, twelve washbacks and six stills, and works around the clock.

It was distilled from unpeated Speyside malt in the distillery's six stills, for a clean, malty Speyside spirit. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the nutty, malty character to the fore. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend a drying structure while oxidation builds a richer, honeyed fruit. The malty, nutty spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its Speyside fruit. The town of Dufftown holds the highest concentration of distilleries in Scotland. For years it made a rich, nutty, spicy spirit in the Bell's style.

At cask strength 53.8% it is full bodied. Baked apple, nut and a creamy malt, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is nutty and malty, the smooth spirit shining through. The finish is smooth, nutty and gently spiced. This is a smooth, nutty Speyside single malt.