Glendullan 14 Years Old 1999

Chosen by Gordon and MacPhail, the Elgin grocer laying down casks on South Street since 1895, this a 14 year old Glendullan, distilled in 1999, at 46%. Glendullan is a Speyside single malt, founded in 1897 in Dufftown, the last of the town's seven distilleries. The founding firm merged into Macdonald Greenlees and was absorbed by DCL in 1926, a forerunner of Diageo. It sits on the banks of the River Fiddich, in the heart of Speyside. It was the last of the Dufftown stills, the town said to stand on seven stills as Rome stands on seven hills.

The spirit was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a fresh, fruity spirit with a light body. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a soft honey over the orchard fruit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend a riper orchard and tropical fruit. Years in oak deepen the spirit to gold, the body growing rounder with time.

Reduced to 46%, it is mellow and fragrant. A clean, grassy sweetness with a floral lift, lifted by a soft oak. Beneath it run green apple, pear and a soft grass. The finish is light, fruity and clean. This is a light, grassy Speyside single malt.