Glendullan Batch 1 (TBWC)

A Glendullan of a 7 year old chosen by That Boutique-y Whisky Company, at 51.7%, one of 387 bottles. Glendullan is a Speyside single malt, long a blending malt and now a name in its own right. Its founder also struck an exclusive supply deal with neighbouring Glenfiddich. Most of its make has always gone to blends, above all Diageo's Old Parr. The founding firm merged into Macdonald Greenlees and was absorbed by DCL in 1926, a forerunner of Diageo.

Drawn from a long fermentation, for a clean, grassy make with a fruity lift. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the fresh, fruity character to the fore. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and lactones as coconut over pear, apple and a creamy note. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the light Speyside spirit. A light, clean texture from the spirit carries through the maturation. Years in oak deepen the spirit to gold, the body growing rounder with time.

At a natural 51.7% it is full and creamy. Pear, apple and a soft spice, lifted by a soft oak. Beneath it run green apple, pear and a soft grass. The finish is rounded, fruity and clean. This is a green, malty Speyside single malt.