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| Hello, that is one in every of our (nearly) day by day tastings. Santé! |
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November 29, 2024
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A number of Dufftown
With an aperitif, just because one should have one…
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Singleton of Dufftown 12 yo (40%, OB, +/-2016) 
These from a couple of dozen years in the past had been slightly so-so (WF 75). Actually, I’ve by no means fairly grasped the entire Singleton story at Diageo, with Dufftown, Ord, Glendullan, and beforehand Auchroisk… This type of umbrella model housing completely different distilleries relying in the marketplace is a bit baffling, however maybe I’m not the quickest on the uptake. Let’s press on, lets? Value noting, this one nonetheless sports activities the older packaging. Color: gold. Nostril: a pleasing mixture of walnuts, hazelnuts, hay, and malt, rounded off with caramel and a dollop of vanilla fudge. Fairly good, actually. Mouth: the palate is much less convincing, with a barely oily texture however a slightly shallow flavour profile. Some nougat and popcorn make an look, together with a touch of natural tea. End: brief and pretty malty, providing notes of bruised apples and a lightweight contact of cappuccino. Feedback: the 40% doesn’t do it any favours, however it’s actually respectable and doubtless higher than the sooner batches. I’ll have to trace down a more moderen launch for comparability someday—or maybe not.
SGP:441 – 78 factors. |
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Dufftown-Glenlivet 10 yo (46%, Cadenhead, Authentic Assortment, bourbon & sherry, 2020)
One other slightly classic bottling. Color: amber. Nostril: the sherry affect (PX) appears to take the lead over the bourbon, with wealthy notes of raisins and candy wine, accompanied by delicate hints of leather-based and roasted chestnuts. There’s additionally a barely tangy edge (courtesy of the sherry once more) and a contact of gently fermented dried figs. Mouth: traditional PX-matured malt, showcasing raisins, sweetened espresso, mead, and a faint whisper of salinity that provides a pleasant dimension. End: medium in size, with salted butter caramel, liquorice, and a slight metallic tang. Feedback: this one’s beautiful, and it softens and rounds out slightly fantastically because it breathes within the glass. In brief, it delivers!
SGP:551 – 83 factors. |
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Dufftown-Glenlivet 10 yo 2007/2017 (56.8%, Cadenhead, Small Batch, 2 hogsheads) 
The outdated black-labelled Cadenhead bottlings had been often known as ‘black dumpies,’ however I’m undecided if this collection has earned a nickname but— ‘black flats’? ‘Black squares’? Color: straw. Nostril: splendid, as this enables a extra unadulterated, much less doctored view of Dufftown’s malt. Right here we discover ripe apples, wort, rustic bread, and grist—a pure, easy profile, although maybe not one to set pulses racing. With water: contemporary bread and damp limestone—clear and sincere. Mouth (neat): rather more interesting, with notes of inexperienced apple and lemon, underscored by chalk and gunflint. On the one facet it’s extremely natural and taut, but there’s a pleasant syrupy sweetness and a contact of white pepper within the again. With water: yellow melon emerges, together with a splash of agave syrup—charming stuff. End: lengthy, exact, and fantastically balanced between mineral and fruity notes. Feedback: I like this bottle not solely as a result of the whisky itself is genuinely wonderful but additionally as a result of it serves as a reminder of the prevalence of a ‘pure’ maturation, free from extreme tampering. Nicely finished, Cadenhead (sure, I do know I’m a bit late to the occasion).
SGP:551 – 87 factors. |
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Dufftown 14 yo 2008/2022 (50.4%, The Whisky Cask Firm, 1st fill PX hogshead end, 239 bottles)
An enthralling wee bottle from Switzerland. Color: deep gold. Nostril: a curious medley of walnuts, tangy fruits, outdated wines, and—unsurprisingly—Swiss cheese, with hints of garlic and kirsch. This Dufftown appears tailored to accompany a Swiss fondue (or as we’d say in France, a fondue savoyarde). There’s a beautiful earthy undertone too. With water: more energizing now, with notes of gentian, anise, dill, fennel, and slate—uncommon however attractive. Mouth (neat): quirky but good, with a spicy, piquant character and that persistent tacky edge. Suppose cumin, black pepper, and barely overripe plums verging on fermentation. With water: leather-based and leafy notes emerge—tomato leaves, fig leaves—including a country contact. End: lengthy and, frankly, a bit odd. Feedback: an amusing little creature. This one feels nearly designed for pairing with meals—fondue, garlic snails, spaghetti with chorizo, and even some Thai or Vietnamese dishes. All in good enjoyable, however do give your glass a radical rinse afterward.
SGP:462 – 79 factors. |
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Dufftown-Glenlivet 11 yo 2007/2019 (54.5%, Cadenhead, Genuine Assortment, bourbon hogshead, 282 bottles)
We’ve stashed away so many of those within the library… Color: straw. Nostril: totally charming, fully pure, and unsurprisingly similar to the Small Batch we simply tasted. Contemporary bread, melon, peach, wort, and chalk—easy but so interesting. With water: contemporary focaccia, damp limestone, and even a contact of white Burgundy Chardonnay—elegant and alluring. Mouth (neat): pure, unadulterated malt perfection. That is what we love. With water: inexperienced apple, barley syrup, a touch of agave and cane sugar, melon, and white peach—it’s all there, completely balanced. End: lengthy, subtly candy, with a refreshing contact of menthol. Feedback: fast and to the purpose—that is wonderful. Pure, irresistible Scottish malt whisky in its pure state.
SGP:651 – 87 factors. |
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Whereas we’re at it, an older one…
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Dufftown-Glenlivet 26 yo 1988/2015 (51%, Cadenhead, Genuine Assortment, bourbon hogshead, 234 bottles) 
Nicely, this might take us to nice heights… or maybe not. Let’s see. Color: pale gold. Nostril: a contact shy at first, taking its time to open up, as if it wants a very good breath of air (don’t all of us?). Initially, there’s a little bit of acetone, contemporary putty, and candle wax earlier than the fruit begins to tiptoe in—melon pores and skin and apples to start out. Then, intriguingly, there’s moss and a whisper of mushrooms… the age displaying via, maybe? With water: oddly drained now, barely previous its greatest. Mouth (neat): a contact extra partaking right here, with citrus zest and a few pleasantly lemony herbs. That mentioned, exaggerated bitterness creeps in after just some seconds. With water: nope, not works. End: no pleasure there both. Feedback: I think this pattern hasn’t fared properly over time. The whisky itself appeared clear, the fill stage was high quality, however throughout my customary pre-check for older samples (particularly these with questionable caps, which you come to acknowledge with expertise), I already had my doubts. I ought to have adopted my instincts and discarded it outright, as I normally do—lesson realized once more. As an exception, we’re publishing this word anyway, strictly for instructional functions.
SGP: no – (ineffective) factors. |
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We had been having different Dufftowns however I consider we will strive them later, we want a relaxation.
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Dangerous caps, dangerous samples |
| Reminder: By no means use, and particularly by no means preserve samples with caps fitted with pads glued to the within. On the whole, defects are very simply detectable on the nostril alone and are kind of at all times the identical, however that isn’t strictly at all times the case. Additionally, keep away from making an attempt to seal caps with sticky tape or duct tape past just a few weeks (journey interval, transit and so on.), desire Parafilm. In any case, pay shut consideration to spirits that appear unusually bitter or exhibit chemical or adhesive-like notes—until you already know that that is inherently a part of the distillery’s type, as is the case with sure Jamaican rums, for instance. As a result of to make issues even simpler, there may be nonetheless glue/varnish, after which there may be glue/varnish. |
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