Dufftown 15 Years Old 1985 Cask #16028 (Wilson & Morgan)

A Dufftown of a 15 year old chosen by the Italian bottler Wilson and Morgan, distilled in 1985, from cask 16028, bottled at 56.8%, one of 613 bottles. Dufftown, owned by Diageo, is a workhorse Speyside distillery and the home of the Singleton of Dufftown. It was founded in 1895 within a former meal mill by Peter Mackenzie and his partners.

It was mashed in the full lauter tun and fermented long for a clean, grassy make, for a soft, nutty, fruit driven make. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the nutty, malty character to the fore. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, apple and pear turning honeyed over the malty body. Maturation in the eight Dufftown warehouses is slow and steady. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. Refill oak lets the nutty, malty Dufftown character lead the way.

At cask strength 56.8% it is full bodied. Nutty malt, green apple and a gentle spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The texture is smooth and creamy, the fruit lifted by vanilla. The close is smooth, fruit over a gentle, spicy oak. This is a smooth, nutty Speyside single malt.