The Singleton of Glendullan is one of those names that sits quietly in the background of Speyside conversation — overshadowed by its flashier neighbours, yet consistently producing spirit of real quality. When Diageo selected the 14-year-old Glendullan for their 2023 Special Releases collection, finished in Chardonnay casks and bottled at a robust 55% ABV, it felt like a long-overdue moment in the spotlight for a distillery that has spent decades doing the unglamorous work of being reliably excellent.
I should say upfront: the Singleton branding has, at times, done Glendullan few favours. It flattens three distinct distilleries — Glendullan, Dufftown, Glen Ord — into a single commercial identity, which can leave enthusiasts uncertain about what they're actually drinking. This bottling cuts through that fog entirely. This is Glendullan, unambiguously, at cask strength and with a finishing treatment that signals genuine ambition.
The Chardonnay Influence
Chardonnay cask finishing remains relatively uncommon in Scotch whisky, and that's part of what makes this release interesting. Where sherry and port finishes can bulldoze a spirit's character, wine casks from white grape varieties tend to work more subtly — adding texture and a certain vinous sweetness without overwhelming the distillery's own voice. At 14 years old and 55% ABV, there's enough backbone here for the Speyside malt character to hold its ground against whatever the Chardonnay wood has contributed. That balance is critical, and on the evidence of this dram, they've struck it well.
The cask-strength bottling is the right call. Too many special releases are watered down to a polite 46% and lose their nerve in the process. Here, you get the full weight of the spirit, and the option to add water at your own pace. I'd encourage you to do so — a few drops open this whisky up considerably.
The Verdict
At £125, the Singleton of Glendullan 14 sits in a competitive bracket. You're paying a premium for the Special Releases badge, and that's fair enough — these are limited bottlings with genuine thought behind the cask selection. What you get is a Speyside single malt that's confident enough to try something different with the Chardonnay finish, mature enough at 14 years to carry real depth, and bottled at a strength that respects the drinker's intelligence. It doesn't shout. It doesn't need to. This is a whisky that rewards patience and attention, and I think it earns its place comfortably in the upper tier of the 2023 collection. I'm giving it an 8.4 — a strong showing from a distillery that deserves more recognition than it typically receives.
Best Served
Pour it neat and sit with it for a few minutes — let it breathe. Then add a small splash of water, no more than half a teaspoon, and watch how it opens up. At 55% ABV, the water isn't optional; it's part of the experience. A cask-strength Speyside like this doesn't need ice, and it certainly doesn't need a mixer. Give it the time and the glass it deserves — a wide-bowled Glencairn or a tulip-shaped copita — and let the whisky do the talking.
