Dufftown 20 Years Old

A 20 year old Dufftown, a distillery bottling, at 55.8%. Dufftown is one of Diageo's largest malt distilleries, founded in 1895 in a former mill. Its water is drawn from Jock's Well, an artesian spring in the Conval Hills.

Worked through the stills with a creamed yeast for a malty, fruity make, giving the smooth, approachable Speyside spirit. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a light vanilla and a soft honey. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are fully expressed, the nutty malt deepening over a soft spice. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. The clean, grassy spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and honey to the fore. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation in the Dufftown warehouses. Years in oak round the spirit, the green apple and malt deepening to honey. Its single malt has been sold as The Singleton of Dufftown since 2006, mainly in the UK and Europe.

Bottled at a cask strength 55.8%, it is rich. A malty, nutty sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is smooth, the fruit carried on a malty body. Apple, nut and a soft oak see out the finish. This is a smooth, nutty Speyside single malt.