A new trio of Glendullan


May 16, 2025

We're back
Back from a short but truly dazzling trip to Sichuan, which combined whisky (remarkable The Chuan), people of disarming kindness and elegance, and a few giant pandas. More on that later, tasting glass(es) in hand, but in the meantime and while we get our thoughts together, it’s back to business as usual.

A new trio of Glendullan

It's one of those distilleries that tend to fly a little under the radar and which, as a result, we enjoy tasting from time to time. There is an official range available at the moment, but the main brand, Singleton, somewhat sidelines the distillery's name. One day, perhaps, we'll understand the thinking behind this strategy, which has now been going on for—what—twenty years?

Danse de St Guy (manie dansante, dancing mania)
in France, early 19th century (France Pittoresque)

Singleton of Glendullan ‘Classic’ (40%, OB, Sweet Vibrancy, 1l, +/-2024)

I believe there aren’t many NAS versions, apart perhaps from a ‘Master’s Art’ that wasn’t half bad at all, nearly twenty years ago. This ‘Classic’ has appeared under various different outfits, though it’s not certain the profiles were ever the same. Colour: gold. Nose: very much on lemon and tart apple, concentrated lemonade, then hints of plaster and flintstone. Almost feels like an old-school Lowland, at least on the nose—it’s a style you don’t encounter very often these days. A touch of honey and stewed fruit then come in to add a little softness. Mouth: youthful, slightly bitter, especially on apple peel, with a few raisins making a late appearance. Considerably less distinctive on the palate than on the nose. Some bitter orange. Finish: medium length, still quite bitter, it could almost stand in for the bitter liquid in a Spritz. Comments: it’s genuinely decent.
SGP:461 - 78 points.

Glendullan 11 yo 2012/2024 ‘100 Proof Edition #32’ (57.1%, Signatory Vintage, 1st fill oloroso butt)

One gets the sense that Signatory has turned this successful series into something of their own A'bunadh, in a way. Imagine—batch #32! We had rather enjoyed some Glendullans from the Signatory UCF series. Colour: amber. Nose: well then, metal polish, dark chocolate, roasted hazelnuts, tar, toffee, instant coffee, burnt raisins... In short, textbook sherry. With water: the arrival of unsurprising old walnuts. Mouth (neat): remarkable how much this brings to mind that other series we mentioned a few lines above. Bitter marmalade, chocolate, tobacco, leather and a pepper note that grows increasingly assertive. With water: there we go, it loosens up, though there’s even more spice—juniper, cloves, burnt sugar, pipe tobacco... Finish: very long, still on similar notes, with added pumpernickel. Comments: bone-dry oloroso, marching in step, just a little on the forceful side. No, this is very good...
SGP:461 - 86 points.

Glendullan 12 yo 2011/2024 (59.8%, Berry Bros. & Rudd, Glens & Valleys, hogshead, cask #310542, 292 bottles)

Always a pleasure to see that little detail on the label— ‘Finish: none’. Though it’s quite mad that this now needs to be stated, given how finishing has crept into nearly every corner of Whiskydom, becoming almost the norm. Colour: pale white wine (yay). Nose: there we are—paraffin, green apple, gooseberry, slate and sourdough. Perfect. With water: lime kicks in forcefully, along with freshly mown grass. No messing about here (in the best sense of the phrase). Mouth (neat): creamy texture, a lemony and herbal arrival balanced out by barley syrup and mountain honey. Wax and plasticine in the background. Perfect. With water: all manner of pepper varieties doing a mad little jig (dancing mania, perhaps?) Finish: long, with properly lovely bitterness. Green Chartreuse, but without all the sugar. Comments: really excellent, this very austere yet highly expressive young Glendullan from BB&R.
SGP:361 - 87 points.

Check the index of all Glendullan we've tasted so far