Dufftown 30 Years Old 1991 Old & Rare A Platinum Selection (Hunter Laing)

The Glasgow bottler Hunter Laing bottled this Dufftown, a 30 year old, distilled in 1991, bottled at 46.7%, one of 247 bottles. Dufftown is a Speyside single malt distilled in the town of Dufftown, the heart of Scotland's malt whisky country. It runs a full lauter mash tun, twelve washbacks and six stills, and works around the clock.

Run through the stills on water from Jock's Well in the Conval Hills, the long ferment building a grassy, fruity character. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the nutty spirit lead. In its ethereal years the malt is waxy and oxidative, faded esters and a touch of sotolon (maple, dried fig). Refill oak lets the nutty, malty Dufftown character lead the way. The clean, grassy spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and honey to the fore. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit.

At a hearty 46.7% it carries real weight. Honey, nut and a touch of spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Pear, honey and a creamy malt fill the middle. It finishes smooth, nutty and approachable. This is the Singleton of Dufftown in single malt form.