Singleton of Glendullan 14 Year The Silken Gown (2023 Special Release)

Another 20 cl purchase from this year's collection. Nose: I detect a cheesy note, which I often notice in younger whiskies. After considering it, I can articulate it as oak and sweet notes, but my initial thought is always cheese. Once it opens up, bright fruit notes emerge. The white wine and orchard fruit characteristics from the base malt are quite apparent. Buttered toast follows. Lightly toasted oak, with less spice than I'd anticipate from French oak. Taste: This is unequivocally the alcoholic rendition of a generic marmalade spread, let's call it 'standard white and orange spread #9'. The French oak is more prominent here, but within the context of this jam-like flavor, I perceive burnt toast even though it's clearly spicy French oak. It's as good as one would expect from a 14-year-old well-finished whisky and as straightforward as one expects from Singleton. Frankly, it's good stuff. I'll rate it 2.75. I will not be purchasing a full bottle.

The nose features citrus, vanilla, and spices. The top of the nose is almost like candied spiced orange peel. It's a distinctive aroma, as the spice is much more prominent than in other scotches. The palate has more citrus fruits and apricot, with a cinnamon-like finish. It's very rich and full. The mouthfeel is nearly decadent. It's velvety and smooth, yet also slightly slick. Overall, this is a real treat. I didn't anticipate much, but this exceeded expectations. A superb bottle when you desire something a bit out of the ordinary and richer than usual.