The Singleton of Dufftown 15 Years Old (40%)

Singleton of Dufftown from the distillery, a 15 year old, at 40%. Dufftown, owned by Diageo, is a workhorse Speyside distillery and the home of the Singleton of Dufftown. In recent years the ferment was lengthened and the wort run clear for a grassier make.

Distilled from unpeated Speyside malt in the distillery's six stills, the long ferment building a grassy, fruity character. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the malt. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, apple and pear turning honeyed over the malty body. Water from Jock's Well and a long ferment give the clean Dufftown make. Its water is drawn from Jock's Well, an artesian spring in the Conval Hills. The malty, nutty spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its Speyside fruit. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. The clean, grassy spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and honey to the fore.

At 40% it is clean and soft. Apple, malt and a soft honey, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft orchard fruit and a nutty malt sit behind the cask. The finish is rounded, malty and gently spiced. This is Dufftown's nutty, malty Speyside style.