The Singleton of Dufftown 1985

An official release of Singleton of Dufftown, a 28 year old, from 1985, at 52.3%, 3816 bottles in all. Dufftown is a nutty, spicy Speyside malt, for decades the heart of the Bell's blend. It became the heart of the Bell's blend after Arthur Bell and Sons bought it in 1933.

The spirit was made on Conval Hills water and condensed in shell and tube condensers, the long ferment building a grassy, fruity character. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the nutty, malty character to the fore. Through the evaporative decades the spirit concentrates, esters folding into dried fruit and a waxy nuttiness. The clean, grassy spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and honey to the fore. The malty, nutty spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its Speyside fruit. The slow distillation gives a smooth spirit that takes well to the cask. The Singleton style leans on a mix of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry oak.

At a hearty 52.3% it carries real weight. Apple, malt and a soft honey, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Pear, honey and a creamy malt fill the middle. A smooth, malty finish ends on apple and a soft spice. This is the workhorse malt of Dufftown.