Dufftown 10yo Batch 2

Dufftown 10yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Speyside
Pale straw
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, tangerines, marshmallows, pear drops, vanilla, lemon curd, hints of mace. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting: Sour. Lemon curd, tangerines, malted grains, pear drops, vanilla, honey, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Mace, cinnamon, pear drops, green apples, tangerines. 

Comments: 

Tart and citrusy, this whisky is a fruity, slightly spicy Speyside specimen! It lacks a little body perhaps, but the flavours are very good. Lots of fragrance, both on the nose and the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Singleton of Dufftown 18yo

Singleton of Dufftown 18yo 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber copper
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, salt caramel, dark chocolate, cloves, tyre rubber, fresh baked bread, hints of muesli. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, slightly astringent, static. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, honey, salt caramel, cola nuts, fresh baked bread, dark chocolate, black tea, muesli. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, orange peel, salt caramel, cola nuts, hints of muesli. 

Comments: 

Lots of typical caramel and toffee notes, this time with an edge of salt and creamy, oaty muesli. I find official Dufftowns quite sweet and toffee-like, even a little over-oaked, but this one has some more complexity underneath that. Nice stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Singleton of Dufftown 30yo 1988/2019 Prima & Ultima

Singleton of Dufftown 30yo 1988/2019 Prima & Ultima

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Sunshine gold
48.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, lemon zest, white pepper, jasmine, rose water, tangerines. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, static. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon zest, tangerines, caramel, butterscotch, toffee, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, rose water, lemon zest, sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Never had a Prima & Ultima before, but this one is quite sweet and complex. Lots of citrus fruits, and floral spice. There’s the Dufftown caramel bitterness buried underneath, and it’s far down enough that I only found it because I was looking for it. Quite delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Singleton of Dufftown 15yo

Singleton of Dufftown 15yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside

Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, butterscotch, burnt sugar, barley sugar, yoghurt, hints of dark chocolate, hints of tyre rubber. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Burnt sugar, toffee, tyre rubber, sea salt, black tea, burnt orange, hints of petrol exhaust. 
Finish: Short. Dark chocolate, petrol exhaust, black tea, burnt sugar. 

Comments: 

It’s been more than a decade since I’ve had a Dufftown. It’s not a very commonly available distillery at indie bottlers than I tend to focus on. This one starts out sweet and caramelly, but then carries it on throughout, a bit one dimensional It’s also a bit understrength for me. 

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 91.19 (Dufftown 20 yo 1985/2005)

SMWS 91.19 (Dufftown 20 yo 1985/2005)

2005, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Pale yellow
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Figs, white grapes, butter, vanilla, marzipan, rubber, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, warm.
Tasting: Bitter. Figs, white grapes, butter, vanilla, sponge cake, rubber, new plastic, peat, hints of cedar.
Finish: Short. Vanilla, new plastic, white grapes.

Comments:

Fruity, almondy and fresh on the nose. It started out quite promising. However, there were harsh overtones of rubber and new plastic (the unpleasant sort - like visiting a chemical factory) on the tongue. A little disappointing.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Singleton of Dufftown 12 yo

Singleton of Dufftown 12 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, yoghurt, cream, apricots, plums, prunes, vanilla, hints of peat. With water, toffee, butter, caramel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns syrupy.
Tasting: Sweet. Yoghurt, cream, pears, prunes, plums, vanilla, hints of orange peel, hints of red wine. With water, toffee, caramel.
Finish: Short. Prunes, pears, orange peel, red wine.

Comments:

Quite sweet, and the fruity notes are reminiscent of bruised fruit, not fresh fruit. Luscious and rich, although the bruised fruit lends a rather dishevelled, not-quite-hanging-together quality to the whisky. While not tasting great, this whisky certainly evokes some impressions.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 91.18 (Dufftown 20 yo 1985/2005)

SMWS 91.18 (Dufftown 20 yo 1985/2005)

2005, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Pale orange
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, marzipan, orange juice, lemon sweets, popcorn, caramel, hints of lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, then static.
Tasting: Sweet. Lemon sweets, vanilla, marzipan, sponge cake, caramel, butter, orange peel, marshmallows.
Finish: Medium. Bitter, mossy, wet leaves, sponge cake.

Comments:

Like sipping a cloud. Very elusive flavours, except for the mulchy finish. Despite the way it sounds, it's actually quite enjoyable, like a counterpoint, akin to the pleasure I get from eating chillies.

Verdict:

I like this.