21/08/2026 The Singleton of Dufftown

It has always made me laugh, this brand. The Singleton. Originally a way to make Auchroisk more pronounceable, it now covers Glen Ord, Dufftown and Glendullan, depending on age statement and market. Perhaps someone should show Diageo the definition of a singleton in the dictionary.

Note the anti-theft tag around the neck!

The Singleton 18yo (40%, OB imported by DBBY, Bourbon and Sherry Casks, L23310M003 0000006243): nose: citrus peel and zest. Pomelo, lime, Shaddock, Kabosu. That grows in sweetness and fruitiness with mere seconds’ breathing, then goes quiet just as suddenly as it started. From that point on, it has sherbet and marmalade-jar lids, rather than fruit itself. A savoury note comes through with salted lichen scraped off a copper pan. A minute later, it peddles a drop of evaporated peach nectar in an ashtray. Not that it is smoky, mind! It is simply ashy -- thuja-bark ashes, to be precise. The second nose has medicinal sweets: Gummib*rchen wrapped in gauze or Reflex spray on chewy orange sweets and bandages. It is very bizarre. Mouth: mellow and gentle, it has a drop of pouring honey in a spoonful of milk. Maybe a hint of nut spread too, albeit difficult to identify with certainty. Chewing rolls out crushed blanched hazelnuts and a dash of nut liqueur. The second sip achieves a remarkable balance of sweetness and bitterness; crystallised orange segments and orange zest, ground white pepper and stem ginger. It appears thinner in subsequent sips, which is unexpected, closer to lukewarm orange juice than to marmalade. Finish: it kicks harder than anticipated and keeps the tongue tingling. There is a pronounced dried-fruit bitterness too, walnut or pecan, and unsweetened mixed peel, if that makes any sense, meaning it has the bitterness of dried orange rinds with no added sweetness. Seville-orange marmalade peppered with sawdust. The second gulp is in line. Lukewarm orange peels, mocha grounds topped with a dollop of pouring honey. Hazel leaves complement an emerging hazelnut spread. The whole dies with a teaspoon of melted mocha chocolate. It seems to have evolved a little since it was opened, last Sunday. It remains simple, but good. 7/10 (Thanks for the sample, PSc)