The Singleton of Glendullan 19 Year Old Special Release 2021 is a Scotch single malt whisky from the Speyside region, bottled at cask strength as part of Diageo's collector's series. Vintage 2001, bottled in 2021, nineteen years of maturation, refill American oak casks with a cognac finish, 54.6% ABV.
The Glendullan distillery was founded in 1898 in Dufftown by Aberdeen blenders William Williams & Sons, and the plant quickly won the favour of King Edward VII. Aberdeen blenders William Williams & Sons established Glendullan in 1898, and the new distillery made an immediate impression, becoming a favourite of King Edward VII. Today the distillery belongs to the Diageo group. Every year since 2001 Diageo has released the Special Releases series featuring rare, limited whiskies from the finest Scottish distilleries; the 2021 edition is the twentieth set in this collector's series, comprising eight single malts bottled at cask strength, titled "Legends Untold" and adorned with illustrations by Ken Taylor.
The maturation profile is built on two stages. Distilled in 2001, this nineteen-year-old Singleton of Glendullan whisky first matured in refill American oak casks and was then finished in cognac casks before being bottled in Diageo's Special Releases 2021 series. Cognac casks can impart a great deal of character, sometimes even too much, but here the cognac element does not dominate the profile, rather it seasons it.
The aroma is led by dried fruit and confectionery notes. Aromas of dried fruit – figs and apricots – orange peel, fruitcake, vanilla marzipan and butter fill the nose. On the nose, taken lightly, it resonates with notes of dried figs and apricots or candied angelica and orange peel, with a dry scent of light fruitcake with vanilla marzipan underneath. The palate offers notes of dry oak, green apples, grapes and coconut, with ginger, beeswax and a touch of smoke on the finish. The finish is long and warming, sweet and slightly dry, with a trace of gingery spiciness and barely perceptible smoke.
The whisky is bottled at cask strength, in limited quantities. The Special Releases 2021 edition is the twentieth set in this collector's series, comprising eight single malts bottled at cask strength and released in limited quantities.