Glendullan 9 Years Old 2011 Cask #308284+310477+310480 (James Eadie)

A 9 year old Glendullan from James Eadie, distilled in 2011, from cask 308284+310477+310480, at 46%, one of 1073 bottles. Glendullan is a fresh, grassy Speyside malt of orchard fruit and a malty sweetness. Its founder also struck an exclusive supply deal with neighbouring Glenfiddich. It sits on the banks of the River Fiddich, in the heart of Speyside.

It was drawn from a long fermentation, for a fresh, fruity spirit with a light body. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak gentle behind the fruity spirit. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin and toasted sugars over the clean, fruity spirit. First fill wood drives the maturation, the cask clear in the light spirit. Years in oak deepen the spirit to gold, the body growing rounder with time. Because the long fermentation keeps the spirit fresh and grassy, the cask shows clearly with time. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At 46% it is smooth and fruity. Pear, citrus and a soft barley, lifted by a soft oak. The body is light and fresh, the fruit lifted by a soft oak. Green apple, citrus and a soft oak see it out. This is the lightly fruity malt of Dufftown.