Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 58.2%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Berry Bros & Rudd
Average price: € 110.00
Official website: bbrspirits.com
Vote: 84/100
A family of London merchants and spirits with a long history, today well-known independent bottlers of whisky of which I had only had the opportunity to taste one blended… but today I am starting to make up for it. Beginning with a new series, the Glens & Valleys Collection, which together with Coast & Shores intends to explore the connection between distillate and territory, with that ‘sense of place’ that Dave Broom recently described in his latest book (which I highly recommend reading).
Ten bottlings for the first series, released in the summer of 2024 (while Coast & Shores will follow in late autumn), exploring distilleries nestled among the placid and rugged valleys that make up the Scottish landscape, of which I open the one dedicated to Glendullan, which in crowded Dufftown is among the components of the threesome Singleton for Diageo.
Single cask hogshead that produced 201 bottles at cask strength.
Tasting Notes
The nose opens with notes of grass and lemon, almost lemongrass, with strong spicy traits of white pepper, anise and cinnamon. The bouquet soon transitions to fruit (green apple, pear, kiwi, jujubes) while maintaining a vegetal spirit, while a faint hint of vanilla appears in the background, which, with the addition of a few drops of water, acquires strength and vigour. Fresh and dry.
If it is a little shy on the nose, in the mouth it regains character and decisiveness with the addition of ginger to the spices that enhance the citric component (grapefruit, lemon) while the fruity part remains as compact and fresh as on the nose. The pastry tones rise, although remaining secondary in the drink, with vanilla, marzipan and candied pineapple along with nuts, vegetable notes and a hint of coffee.
The finish is quite long in which the pastry and coffee notes, punctuated by spices, are enhanced by fruit and vegetable stitching.
Starts off quietly but expresses character in the drink, maintaining those dry and fresh tones that make it easy to pour into the glass. Little complexity but with balance and elegance.