After reviewing the peaty expressions from this year’s Special release, it’s time to start going through the non-peated whiskies. I’ve chosen to start with this one, finished in Ex-Cognac casks (which is not a very usual cask finish for whiskies, and especially for Diageo) after aging in refill American oak casks. Interesting…
I am not a big fan of the “Singleton” line of whiskies, not sure why Diageo chose to hide the distillery names or group a few distilleries under the Singelton umbrella. go figure.
The Singleton of Glendullan 19 yo, 54.6 %, £135
Nose: Quite fruity (not surprising) with aromas of fruit cakes (what we call English cake around here), some sultanas and a hint of fig, vanilla and apple topped pastries, orange peel, and apricots alongside oak and coconut shreds, more buttery notes of fresh croissant dough and more sponge cake.
Palate: Bigger on the palate than the nose suggests: with a gingery bite on the first wave of sensations, maybe some white pepper as well, then it becomes fruitier with more of the coconut, vanilla, and fruitcake more wood spices, toasted oak, and green apples and pears, ending on bitter-sweet wood.
Finish: a bit dusty (waxy if you will), more fruitcake, and a wisp of smoke.
Conclusion: A nice Cognac influence over here, with fruity cakes on top of a fruity and spicy distillate The finish, is well integrated and the whisky is lovely.
Score: 87/100
Available online at MOM for £135