Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 40%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: Yes
Added coloring: Yes
Owner: Diageo
Average price: € 42.00
Official website: www.thesingleton.com
Vote: 80/100
Let’s go back to Game of Thrones and the special editions dedicated to the serial by Diageo a couple of years ago, and do so with one of the ‘minor’ bottlings, from a distillery that doesn’t garner much interest except for the unofficial versions.
Speaking of the 15 year old, I have already pointed out that there is some confusion in the labels, with The Singleton sometimes being from Dufftown, sometimes from Glendullan and sometimes from Glen Ord: for convenience, I will keep them all together under the same category, so they are easier to retrieve.
As always, here’s a summary of all the editions:
– Cardhu Gold Reserve (dedicated to the House Targaryen);
– Clynelish Reserve (dedicated to the House Tyrell);
– Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost (dedicated to the House Stark);
– Lagavulin 9yo (dedicated to the House Lannister);
– Mortlach 15yo (dedicated to the Six Kingdoms);
– Oban Bay Reserve (dedicated to the Night’s Watch);
– Royal Lachnagar 12yo (dedicated to the House Baratheon);
– Singleton of Glendullan Reserve (dedicated to the House Tully);
– Talisker Select Reserve (dedicated to the House Greyjoy).
Nominally not part of the series, but nevertheless inspired by GoT, are the following:
– Johnnie Walker White Walker (dedicated to the White Walkers);
– Johnnie Walker Song of Fire and Johnnie Walker Song of Ice.
Tasting notes
A herbaceous triumph on the nose, with a light alcoholic sting accompanying cereals, blond orange, a drop of honey, vanilla and lemon. Fresh and light, not very full-bodied, but all in all pleasant (even if the alcohol is a little boring).
The palate proves to be sweeter, with a clear component of caramel and malt biscuit, apple pie, toffee, icing sugar. The freshness of the nose is somewhat lost in favour of a more pandering and pleasing, almost cloying profile. Traces of tobacco.
The finish is medium, tending to be dry, of caramel, apple, white sugar and wood.
In the days of Italy’s proud machismo, it would have been called a whisky ‘for women’, easy to drink, sweet, with that peak of alcohol to remind you that it is not for minors. Today I would call it an easy-going whisky that wants to please everyone and is quickly forgotten.
Without infamy or praise.
Reviews of The Singleton whisky
Other perspectives:
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