“You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone”
Whisky Review # 1055
Region: Speyside
Brand: The Singleton of Glendullan - 2021 Special Edition - Distilled: 2001
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 Years - Bottled: 2021
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 54.6% (At or around Cask Strength)
Maturation: Refill Ex-Bourbon Casks with Cognac-Seasoned Cask Finish
Chill Filtration: No
Maturation: Refill Ex-Bourbon Casks with Cognac-Seasoned Cask Finish
Chill Filtration: No
Average Price: US$ 160 (January 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Too expensive for what it offers
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Too expensive for what it offers
Buying Advice: 😑 It doesn't really work for me. Try a sample first!
Color:
Light Golden (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Nose:
The Alcohol is quite strong so avoid Nosing in the middle of your glass. I also get the European Oak of the Cognac cask finish at once. The Nose feels Light and on the Thin side and you wouldn't give it 19 years at first glance. It opens slowly so you will need some patience here. The Nose presents a mix of Sweet & Sour notes with lots of Yellow Fruit around. I had expected more to be honest.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Butter Biscuits, Vanilla, Green Apple, Lemon, Mixed Dried Fruits and Nuts (Studentenhaver), Wine Cellar, Grass, Coconut, Wet Stones & Sand, Wet Leaves and Earth, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Mint.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Honey, Caramel, Toffee, Blueberry Muffins, Nectarine, Grapefruit, Seville Orange, Pear, Yogurt with Tropical Fruit mixture, Wax, Floral Perfume, Tobacco & Cocoa. A hint of Polished Leather.
Honey, Caramel, Toffee, Blueberry Muffins, Nectarine, Grapefruit, Seville Orange, Pear, Yogurt with Tropical Fruit mixture, Wax, Floral Perfume, Tobacco & Cocoa. A hint of Polished Leather.
Palate:
A slightly Hot and Unbalanced mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes. The Alcohol is really present. Quite Dry as well.
Main Flavours:
A slightly Hot and Unbalanced mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes. The Alcohol is really present. Quite Dry as well.
Main Flavours:
Malted Barley, Vanilla, Green Apple, Pear, Lemon, Grapefruit, Grass, Wine Cellar, Charred Oak, Wet Rocks, Floral Soap, Chili, Ginger, Aniseed and Mint.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Caramel, Wax, Seville-Orange, Nectarine, Slivovitz, Bounty Bars, Polished Leather, Tobacco, Cinnamon, Cloves and Oriental Spice mix.
Finish:
Middle-Long with Bitter, Sweet & Sour elements. The Bitterness increases towards the Dry end. Quite Tannic. The Cognac Finish is noticeable. I find Malted Barley, Vanilla, Caramel, Toffee, Honey, Demerara Sugar, Yeast, Mixed Dried Fruits and Nuts, Pear, Green Apple, Grapefruit, Seville-Orange, Floral Soap, Bitter Chocolate, Artificial Sweetener, Aspirin, Dusty Charred Oak, Espresso, Slivovitz, Leather and Tobacco, Wine Cellar, Wet Rocks, Metal, Chilli, Cinnamon, Ginger, Oriental Spice Mix and Mint. The Alcohol is slightly aggressive after swallowing.
Middle-Long with Bitter, Sweet & Sour elements. The Bitterness increases towards the Dry end. Quite Tannic. The Cognac Finish is noticeable. I find Malted Barley, Vanilla, Caramel, Toffee, Honey, Demerara Sugar, Yeast, Mixed Dried Fruits and Nuts, Pear, Green Apple, Grapefruit, Seville-Orange, Floral Soap, Bitter Chocolate, Artificial Sweetener, Aspirin, Dusty Charred Oak, Espresso, Slivovitz, Leather and Tobacco, Wine Cellar, Wet Rocks, Metal, Chilli, Cinnamon, Ginger, Oriental Spice Mix and Mint. The Alcohol is slightly aggressive after swallowing.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water helps to ease the Heat somewhat but does not improve the package as a whole although I get more Fruity notes (Peach/Nectarine) on the Palate. I still prefer it neat though.
Added Water helps to ease the Heat somewhat but does not improve the package as a whole although I get more Fruity notes (Peach/Nectarine) on the Palate. I still prefer it neat though.
Rating: 7 (*******)
Nose: 7 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is 8 or higher you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Drinking Experience Neat: Okay
Conclusion:
The first Glendullan Distillery was founded in Dufftown by William Williams & Sons in 1896. In 1972, a second Glendullan Distillery was constructed next to the old one. They operated together until the old distillery was closed in 1985. The current owner is Diageo. Most of the Spirit of Glendullan was and is -used in Diageo Blends. Since 2007, the Single Malts produced at Glendullan, Glen Ord and Dufftown are marketed under the name "The Singleton". The Glendullan core range includes the 12, 15 and 18 Years as well as the Reserve Collection. Annual output amounts to around 5 million litres of alcohol.
The first Glendullan Distillery was founded in Dufftown by William Williams & Sons in 1896. In 1972, a second Glendullan Distillery was constructed next to the old one. They operated together until the old distillery was closed in 1985. The current owner is Diageo. Most of the Spirit of Glendullan was and is -used in Diageo Blends. Since 2007, the Single Malts produced at Glendullan, Glen Ord and Dufftown are marketed under the name "The Singleton". The Glendullan core range includes the 12, 15 and 18 Years as well as the Reserve Collection. Annual output amounts to around 5 million litres of alcohol.
Once in a while you encounter a whisky that is neither fish nor fowl as the British say. This Glendullan is one of them in my opinion. It's not really bad but neither is it well-structured. It's a Bitter, Sweet, Sour, Spicy & Hot mix of Flavors & Aromas that somehow are at war with each other. The very high ABV does not help here as well. It does not work for me and my advise to you would be to try a sample first before deciding to buy a full bottle.
Cheers 🥃
Jan January 26, 2025
