Dufftown 13 Years Old 2008 Cask #700395 (Whiskybroker.co.uk)

A Dufftown of a 13 year old chosen by the bottler Whiskybroker, distilled in 2008, from cask 700395, bottled at 56.5%, one of 214 bottles. Dufftown is one of Diageo's largest malt distilleries, founded in 1895 in a former mill. For years it made a rich, nutty, spicy spirit in the Bell's style.

Distilled for the nutty, malty character Dufftown is known for, building the smooth Dufftown style. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a light vanilla and a soft honey. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the body softer and nuttier. The Singleton style leans on a mix of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry oak. Water from Jock's Well and a long ferment give the clean Dufftown make. Long ageing turns the fresh apple towards honey, dried fruit and a soft spice. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation in the Dufftown warehouses.

At 56.5%, undiluted, it is deep and malty. Nutty malt, green apple and a gentle spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Pear, honey and a creamy malt fill the middle. The finish is rounded, malty and gently spiced. This is an approachable Speyside single malt.