The Singleton of Dufftown Malt Master's Selection is a Scotch single malt whisky from Speyside, bottled without an age statement (NAS) at 40% ABV. It joined the range in 2019 as part of the refreshed core line-up of Diageo's Singleton brand, in a softer, sweeter take on the Speyside Dufftown style.
The whisky comes from the Dufftown distillery, which has been operating in Speyside since 1896. Dufftown produces whisky through a slow process of distillation and maturation in a combination of European sherry casks and American bourbon casks. This particular edition was composed by Craig Wilson, the brand's Master of Malt. Wilson hand-selected and blended the whisky, which was then matured in European and American oak casks of three types: wine, sherry and bourbon.
The aroma and flavour profile is dominated by sweetness and a rounded, slightly oily texture. Soft orchard fruit esters give way to notes of apple candy, white pepper cuts through golden syrup and buttery pastry, with marzipan in the background. The slightly oily palate carries sweeter notes of toffee, vanilla and pear, with a green, grassy backdrop and a youthful, lively spiciness that gradually fades amid vanilla and a touch of wood smoke.
The Singleton brand was created in 2006, when Diageo introduced three separate single malts, each intended for a different market. The Singleton of Dufftown, described as nutty and spicy, was initially reserved exclusively for Europe. The whisky is bottled at 40% ABV.