This 15 Years Old single malt whisky forms part of The Singleton of Dufftown core range. It is joined by the 12- and 18 Years Old expressions, plus the non-age statement Malt Master’s Selection. The Singleton was created by Diageo in 2006 and is one of the best selling Scotch single malt brands in the world. It encapsulates three distilleries, with each sold in a different market. Dufftown is available in Europe only, while Glendullan and Glen Ord are exclusive to North America and Asia respectively.
The Dufftown distillery was founded in 1896 by Peter Mackenzie, Richard Stackpole, John Symon and Charles MacPherson. It is located on the outskirts of the town of Dufftown in the Speyside region of Scotland. The town is currently home to six single malt distilleries. Balvenie, Glendullan, Glenfiddich, Kininvie and Mortlach are the other five.
The distillery was originally built in a converted mill and named as Dufftown-Glenlivet. The Glenlivet name was used by several Speyside distilleries in the late-1800s and early 1900s as a mark of quality. Dufftown is owned by Diageo and has an annual capacity of six million litres. The maturing spirit is shared between The Singleton single malt and several Diageo-owned blends, most notably Bell’s and Johnnie Walker.
The Singleton of Dufftown 15 Years Old is bottled at 40% ABV. It is widely available in the UK and throughout Europe. A bottle should cost around £50.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is bright gold and the nose is soft, sweet and fruity. Early aromas of baked green apple, crumbly brown sugar and a pinch of cinnamon and cocoa powder lead the way. Then come further aromas of malty biscuits and dried orange, which sit alongside a distinct floral hint. Imagine palma violet sweets and dried pot pourri.
On the palate this whisky is soft, sugary sweet and gentle. There is real burst of sweetness initially with muscovado sugar and milk chocolate notes to the fore. Then comes the soft baked apple, which is accompanied by vanilla custard and butterscotch sauce. Further notes of soft fudge, creamy toffee and a hint of apricot jam add to the sweetness and depth.
There are plenty of dried spices on the mid-palate. These develop nicely and are oaky and warming. Think of woody spice such as cinnamon bark, nutmeg and a suggeston of clove. A hint of a drying nuttiness also evolves. This is reminiscent of creamy brazil nut and toasted walnut. The delicious baked apple note holds throughout and is joined at the death by a hint of dried orange.
The finish is soft, sweet and a little short. The sugary and fruity characteristics fade to leave the malty biscuits and warming spice elements to linger. A hint of drying cocoa powder and freshly baked ginger cake sit in the background.
What’s The Verdict?
The Singleton of Dufftown 15 Years Old is a delicious whisky and one that shows off classic Speyside characteristics. It is soft, sweet and flavoursome, and really hits the spot. It is easy to see why the range is so popular and also offers good value for money. There are not many 15 year old single malts at the £50 mark these days. An easy going and classy whisky.
