Glendullan 12 Years Old 2013 (James Eadie)

James Eadie bottled this Glendullan, a 12 year old, distilled in 2013, at 52.3%, one of 665 bottles. Glendullan is a Speyside single malt from Dufftown, on the banks of the River Fiddich. It was built in 1897 by William Williams and Sons, Aberdeen blenders, the seventh and last distillery raised in Dufftown. It was the last of the Dufftown stills, the town said to stand on seven stills as Rome stands on seven hills. It runs long fermentations and a slow distillation for a green, grassy, lightly fruity spirit.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated malt, for the green, grassy make Glendullan is known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin and a soft coconut under the malt. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the pear softening towards a creamy honey. Years in oak deepen the spirit to gold, the body growing rounder with time. Maturation runs slow and even in the warehouses at Dufftown.

At its natural 52.3% it is full and fruity. A fresh orchard fruit and a malty sweetness, lifted by a soft oak. Soft pear and a light vanilla sit behind the cask. The finish runs fresh, grassy and clean. This is Glendullan's green, lightly fruity Speyside style.