1997 Dufftown 18 Year Old "K&L Exclusive - Signatory" Single Barrel Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Staff Reviews

RW

Ryan Woodhouse

Ryan Woodhouse

Tasted alongside the other new Signatory bottlings this Dufftown is distinctively "malty"...almost rye bread like savory qualities are complemented by baked orchard fruit, spicy oak nuances and a stiff cut of slightly briney tones on the finish. Interesting stuff from a distillery I'm not so familiar with and what a steal for an 18 year old single malt?!

Notes

Dufftown is more famous for being the home of Glenfiddich, rather than for the distillery that carries the town's name, but there is indeed an eponymous facility making whisky there. Dufftown distillery is a Diageo-owned plant that produces "The Singleton" single malt whisky for European release. "The Singleton" we see here in the states is made at Glendullan, but the styles are similar. Dufftown makes a classic Highland style malt, albeit with a bit more grit. A comparison in styles would definitely include its neighbor Glenfiddich, but Dufftown's mash has a longer fermentation time coupled with an incredibly-low distillation speed, resulting in the maximum copper contact inside the still. The result is a heavier whisky, loaded with a malty character, that becomes spicy and gritty once put into oak barrels. This single cask edition, aged in a refill hogshead, picks up the oak spices and the cask strength proof accentuates what is already a bold and forthcoming whisky. Imagine the vanilla, the biscuity flavors, and the richness of Glenfiddich, but then add a few brush strokes: polished wood, toasted barley, and baking spices. It finishes with accents of resin, sawdust, and dried fruits.