Glendullan certainly not the “Glen Dull One”
Glendullan, also nicknamed “Glen Dull One“, is one of the many stills in Dufftown and with quite a hefty production: 5 million liters per year. Most of it went to blends, I’m sure, but then came along the introduction of The Singleton malts. The little settlement of Dufftown is the main supplier of malts for this flagship label, with Glendullan mostly sold in the USA and Dufftown Distillery aimed at Europe. The Asian markets are serviced with output made at Glen Ord Distillery. So, even though Glendullan is much more visible these days, it is still hard to come by in Europe. For its debut on LPA today, we found an independently bottled expression.
Glendullan was one of these distilleries that for a while worked in tandem with the original. Like a few more facilities in the late 1960 and early 1970s, Glendullan got completely rebuild in 1972. That new site distilled along the old site until 1985, when the old one was retired. During a visit to Speyside in 2011, we quietly entered the terrain and peeked at the old and newer buildings. Greatly spread out alongside the River Fiddich and the B9014, it is a sight/site to see.
Glendullan 10 years old, bottled at 55 % abv by Liquid Treasures
First things first: A vintage 2010 Glendullan that was bottled in 2020 for the German market. The malt matured in a sherry butt that produced 240 bottles. Winter 2020 Edition.
Upon Sipping: Ah well, a good sherry cask in combination with an all-round Speyside malt like this one makes for a fruity arrival. Then some more prickly notes, changed into toffee, chocolate spread and wet wood. Very fresh and friendly. A sweet arrival on the tongue as well, but the alcohol stings a little. The finish is not without a sharper, sulphury bite. With water, the nose releases some gingerbread spices, cinnamon and brown sugar. The palate becomes more welcoming, but the taste undergoes a transformation towards a much more (hazel)nutty character. Schizophrenic whisky at its best.
Word to the Wise: Not a whisky for beginners, and if you are more experienced, you need to have a taste for these malts that are like a tea where you left the bag in for just a minute too long. Strong!
Score: 82 points.