Dufftown 9 Years Old 1992 Cask #3663 (Dun Eideann)

A 9 year old Dufftown from the bottler Dun Eideann, distilled in 1992, from cask 3663, bottled at 46%, one of 310 bottles. Dufftown is a smooth, approachable Speyside malt from the town with the most distilleries in Scotland. Its spirit stills are larger than its wash stills, unusual among Scottish distilleries.

It was run through the stills on water from Jock's Well in the Conval Hills, for a clean, malty Speyside spirit. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the smooth spirit. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted sugars (light caramel) over the nutty spirit. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. It was founded in 1895 within a former meal mill by Peter Mackenzie and his partners. Built for the blender's art, the spirit ages with grace as a single malt.

At 46% it is clean and soft. A smooth, nutty Speyside fruit, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft orchard fruit and a nutty malt sit behind the cask. A long, malty finish carries an orchard fruit and a soft nut. This is the Singleton of Dufftown in single malt form.