Dufftown 2008 Thompson Bros. 16 yo

 

 

 

51,5°

Distillery : Dufftown - Speyside

Oloroso Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Thompson Bros. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

You can trust the Thompson brothers to find the nugget among the little-known distilleries. This one is a Dufftown from the town of the same name, which spent no less than 16 years in an Oloroso Hogshead, resulting in 218 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Superb Oloroso Sherry cask, delicate woodiness, mahogany, peach stones, muscat grapes, red fruit tart, raspberry coulis, but not too overpowering, leaving an autumnal fragrance to the whole, dead leaves, dried grass, and a very slight charcoal note. Yellow wax, royal jelly, a zest of lemon. On the palate, it's more on the dried fruit side, with dates, figs and apricots. Plum jam, a few cooked mushrooms, a square of dark chocolate. Intense spices, nutmeg, cloves, cumin. The finish is long, woody, chocolatey, foresty, with some extra red fruit and marmalade, and a small slice of bacon.

 

In Short, 

Not only is this a little-known distillery to discover, but the cask used is truly exceptional. The Sherry is intense but allows the distillate to express itself. That's why it's a real must-have, and the value for money is incredible. But of course, it's impossible to find.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           In Isolation - Middle Child Millicent

The Singleton Sublimely Smooth 18 yo Dufftown Distillery

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Dufftown - Speyside

Refill American Bourbon and European Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2011

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Singleton of Dufftown 18yo was released just three years after the 15yo, which leads me to believe that it is exactly the same juice, but a little older. This product, initially reserved for Europe, is now available all over the world. It is the distillery's oldest expression in the regular range. Initially, it was subtitled Traditionally Batch Distilled, then Perfectly Balanced and Smooth, and finally, as from 2020, Sublimely Smooth.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is at last complex, with crème caramel, white chocolate ganache, a variety of pulpy fruits, apples, apricots, pears, bananas, pineapple, with a hint of vanilla and a zest of lemon. On the palate, it's still a little light, but it comes through: woody, floral, white grapes and rosewater, a pinch of icing sugar, very light spices. The finish is interesting, with toasted cereals, young wood, tannins, hazelnuts, almonds, cola, cloves and a very slight touch of bitterness.

In Short, 

You have to wait until it's 18 years old before you get something complex, a real profile. It's still a little too light in alcohol, and the cold filtration erases the flavours, but there's something appreciable nevertheless. I wouldn't go so far as to buy it, but it gives you a good time. Fans beware, the price varies considerably.

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Feist - Forever Before

The Singleton Fruity Decadence 15 yo Dufftown Distillery

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Dufftiwn - Speyside 

Refill Bourbon, European Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2008

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Singleton brand was born in 1986, when the idea was to bottle Single Malt from the Auchroisk distillery, but the gentlemen at Diageo felt that the name Auchroisk was too difficult to pronounce and would sell better under the name Singleton. The Singleton of Auchroisk was then abandoned, and it wasn't until the 2000s that the brand was relaunched, with three distilleries: Dufftown for the European market, Glen Ord for the Asian market, and Glendullan for the American market. The 15-year-old was later launched, initially for the travel-retail market. But today it can be found everywhere. When it was first released, it was subtitled Traditionally Batch Distilled, then in 2018 it became Perfectly Balanced and Smooth, and finally in 2020, with new packaging, it changed its name to Fruity Decadence. Unfortunately, it's cold-filtered and coloured, and the alcohol content is kept to a minimum.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The fruits are more pronounced, even tangy: blood orange, clementine, melon, lemon and grapefruit juice, juicy apples and pears, white grapes, prickly pears. Creamy vanilla in the background, with a few floral hints. The palate is still very clear, but a little less so than with the 12-year-old, still fruity, slightly honeyed, biscuity, with very light spices. The finish is decent without being really remarkable, barely long, light but a tad punchy, toasted wood, cereals, egg custard, vergeoise and sponge cake. Almonds.

In Short, 

It's exactly the same profile as the 12-year-old, only a little better. It's beginning to be pleasant, without being really interesting. The price rises slightly, but it's still cheap. You have to like light products, but it's not that badly made. Not my thing at all anyway.

Score : 84

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Merce Lemon - Backyard Lover

The Singleton Luscious Nectar 12 yo Dufftown Distillery

 

 

 

40° 

Distillery : Dufftown - Speyside

Refill Bourbon, European Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2006

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Singleton is a brand that brings together Single Malts from several distilleries, Glen Ord, Auchroisk, Glendullan, but the one from Dufftown is certainly the most widespread. It's chill-filtered and reduced to 40°, so you might think it's reserved for cocktails, but it can also be enjoyed neat. The first editions were subtitled Traditionally Batch Distilled, but the packaging and subtitles have changed over the years, with the current one dating from 2020 and subtitled Luscious Nectar.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's smooth and fruity, creamy, with clear and liquid honey, orchard fruit and floral touches. Yellow and green apples, Comices pears, a zest of lemon, ripe apricots, soft bananas and a few exotic fruits, pineapple, papaya. On the palate, it's unfortunately very light, but there's still a hint of light fruit with a bit of icing sugar, the spices are very discreet. The finish is obviously not very powerful or long, but it's well done nonetheless, with various cereals, whipped cream, meringue and mint leaves.

 

In Short, 

It could be quite good, but reduced as it is, and chill-filtered, there's not much left in terms of flavour. On the other hand, it's well-balanced and easy to drink. The price is certainly attractive, but even free, I don't know if I'd want it. Too shy and restrained for me.

Score : 83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Sundays - Goodbye