Glendullan distillery was built in 1897 in Dufftown — the Speyside town that houses more distilleries than any other. Its malt has served blending operations for most of its existence, and the single malt is marketed as The Singleton of Glendullan in the American market (while Glen Ord serves Asia and Dufftown serves Europe, all under the Singleton umbrella). The 12 Year Old is the core expression.
The whisky is designed for the American market's preference for smoothness and accessibility, and on those terms it delivers effectively. The spirit is clean and well-made, the maturation competent, and the result is a pleasant, easy-drinking Speyside malt that makes no demands on the drinker's attention. At 40%, it drinks with a lightness that some will find refreshing and others will find vacant.
The Singleton of Glendullan is a functional single malt that serves its commercial purpose — introducing American drinkers to Scotch whisky — without embarrassing itself. It is well-made, reasonably priced, and exactly as smooth as it intends to be. What it lacks is character — the very quality that makes single malt whisky worth exploring in the first place. For the curious drinker, Glendullan is a starting point rather than a destination.
