Glendullan Distillery: History, Owner, Range and Visitor Guide
Updated: 1 day ago
Glendullan is a historic Dufftown single malt distillery owned by Diageo. You may know its whisky as The Singleton of Glendullan, especially in the United States. From its original Victorian plant to the modern range of 12, 15 and 18 Year Old whiskies, here's the history, production, bottles and advice for visitors.
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Glendullan at a glance
Glendullan at a glance | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Location | Dufftown, Moray, Speyside, Scotland |
Founder | William Williams & Sons, Aberdeen whisky blenders |
Established | 1897; Victorian distillery |
Owner | Diageo |
Key expansion | A second, larger plant built in 1972; original plant ceased production in 1985 |
Production style | Light, fruity Speyside single malt; much production also supports blended Scotch |
Stills | Three wash and three spirit stills in the newer production facility |
Main single malt identity | The Singleton of Glendullan, primarily associated with the US market |
Visitor centre | No regular public tour programme confirmed |
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Where is Glendullan Distillery?
Glendullan is in Dufftown, Moray, in Scotland's Speyside whisky region. It stands beside the River Fiddich, near Conval Hill and several other well-known working whisky distilleries.
Glendullan history: from a Victorian stillhouse to Diageo
1897: William Williams & Sons establish Glendullan
The Aberdeen blending firm William Williams & Sons built Glendullan in 1897, making it the last of Dufftown's seven Victorian-era distilleries. The original distillery had one pair of stills and a water wheel, and its old pagoda-roofed buildings still recall that period.
1972–1985: a second Glendullan takes over
A second, larger plant was constructed next to the original in 1972. The historic and modern distilleries ran at the same time until the old one stopped distilling in 1985. The newer site continued supplying a substantial volume of Speyside whisky for blends and single malt releases.
Who owns Glendullan today?
Glendullan is now owned by Diageo. It has been connected with the whisky-blending trade for more than a century, including the Old Parr family of blends. Glendullan became one of three distilleries used by Diageo for The Singleton brand, alongside Dufftown and Glen Ord. The often-repeated story that King Edward VII particularly enjoyed Glendullan should be treated as an anecdote, rather than as a fully corroborated fact.
How Glendullan whisky is made
Glendullan's newer production plant uses three wash stills and three spirit stills. Diageo describes a patient approach for its Singleton range, including fermentation of around 75 hours, gentle distillation and maturation in American and European oak casks. The result is a softer, fruit-forward style, with citrus, vanilla and honey appearing prominently in official tasting notes.
Not every cask of Glendullan goes into a Singleton bottle. Much of the distillery's output is used in Diageo's wider blended Scotch portfolio. Independent bottlers, including Gordon & MacPhail, have also brought individual Glendullan casks to enthusiasts.
Glendullan versus Dufftown versus Glen Ord
The Singleton is a brand of single malt whiskies, not one physical distillery. On bottles, look for the full origin name: The Singleton of Glendullan, The Singleton of Dufftown or The Singleton of Glen Ord. Even with the shared branding, they come from distinct stillhouses and should not be conflated in ratings or whisky collections.
The Singleton of Glendullan core range compared
The official US Malts catalogue lists three age-stated Glendullan expressions: 12, 15 and 18 Year Old. The 40% ABV figures below are consistent with Diageo's Singleton menu, but country-specific bottling strengths and packaging should always be checked.
Core expression | Age | Typical listed ABV | Maturation and character |
|---|---|---|---|
The Singleton of Glendullan 12 | 12 years | 40% | American bourbon oak and European sherry oak influence; fruit, citrus and vanilla |
The Singleton of Glendullan 15 | 15 years | 40% | Selected American and European oak casks; richer fruit cake and spicy oak notes |
The Singleton of Glendullan 18 | 18 years | 40% | Extended oak maturation; mature fruit, chocolate, wood and spice |
Official Glendullan tasting notes
These nose, palate and finish descriptors are adapted from Diageo's published tasting notes. They are not Whisky Clan tasting scores.
Bottle | Official nose | Official palate | Official finish |
|---|---|---|---|
12 Year Old | Red fruits and raisins, citrus, vanilla, light sandalwood and fragrant leather | Citrus, raisins, vanilla, honey, maple sweetness and nuts | Short and creamy, slightly drying with blackcurrant |
15 Year Old | Chocolate, sultanas, bittersweet orange, cinnamon, coffee and beeswax | Juicy citrus, soft fruit, vanilla, coriander and pepper | Smooth toasty oak, mild spicy tingle and creamy floral notes |
18 Year Old | Black pepper, cigar-box wood, hard toffee, dried fruits, chocolate and leather | Chocolate shortbread, black cherry, liquorice, herbs and a chilli edge | Soft, dry and rounded with mellow nutty spice |
The Singleton of Glendullan bottle gallery
Glendullan rare releases and historic bottles
The Silken Gown: 14 Year Old Special Release 2023
Diageo's 2023 Special Releases included The Singleton of Glendullan 14 Year Old, nicknamed The Silken Gown. Finished in Chardonnay de Bourgogne French oak casks, it was bottled at 55% ABV. Official tasting notes highlight green apples, grapes and pear, with silky toffee and fruit on the palate. Its special-release status means stock and pricing differ by country.
Older Glendullan releases for collectors
Historically significant bottlings include a 12 Year Old from Diageo's Flora and Fauna series, rare cask-strength Rare Malts editions and a 38 Year Old 1976 vintage released in 2014. Independent bottlings by Gordon & MacPhail and others also exist. These are collector references rather than regular current products, and no reliable all-time auction record was verified.
Glendullan whisky awards and critical recognition
Verified dated awards include Gold at The Scotch Whisky Masters 2025 for both The Singleton of Glendullan 15 Year Old and 18 Year Old. The 15 Year Old also appears as a Gold medal winner in the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition results. Diageo's historic Singleton 12 Year Old product page separately reports a 2020 San Francisco Gold. Awards apply only to the named expression and year, not every Glendullan bottling.
Where can you buy The Singleton of Glendullan?
Availability depends strongly on which Singleton distillery you mean. Glendullan's 12, 15 and 18 Year Old expressions have established official product listings in the United States, whereas The Singleton of Dufftown is often more familiar in the UK and other markets.
Region | Where to explore | Important note |
|---|---|---|
United States | Diageo Malts US official 12, 15 and 18 Year Old listings and authorised retailers | Historically a main market for The Singleton of Glendullan; state laws and availability vary |
United Kingdom | Whisky specialists and occasional imported or collector editions | The Singleton of Dufftown is more commonly seen; check the exact distillery name |
Canada | Provincial liquor stores and established specialist importers | No continuous Glendullan stock verified nationally |
Australia | Whisky retailers and specialist importers | Glen Ord and Dufftown expressions may appear under The Singleton too |
Europe | Country-specific official sites and specialist retailers | Limited releases and imported bottles vary by region |
Can you visit Glendullan Distillery?
Glendullan is a working production site, and no regular Glendullan visitor centre or public tour booking programme could be confirmed as of October 2026. The Singleton brand promotes organised tours at Glen Ord in the Highlands. If you are travelling to Dufftown, other nearby distilleries offer visitor experiences, but check the official booking details before making plans.
Other Diageo distilleries and The Singleton
Diageo also owns other distilleries in and around Dufftown. These related guides can help readers compare the very different styles under the same ownership:
Dufftown Distillery — another Diageo-owned producer used for The Singleton of Dufftown
Mortlach Distillery — Diageo's robust and savoury Beast of Dufftown, a useful style contrast
Five more Whisky Clan distilleries around Dufftown
Explore more whisky history and different production styles in Dufftown with these guides:
Dufftown — the other Singleton distillery in this town
Mortlach — known for 2.81 distillation
Glenfiddich — historic family-owned Speyside single malt
The Balvenie — noted for its cooperage and cask finishing
Kininvie — a nearby less-visible blend-supplying distillery
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Frequently asked questions about Glendullan
Is Glendullan the same as The Singleton of Dufftown?
No. The Singleton is a Diageo single malt brand used for whisky from three different distilleries: Glendullan in Speyside, Dufftown in Speyside and Glen Ord in the Highlands. Read the full bottle label to see the producing distillery.
Who owns Glendullan Distillery?
Glendullan is owned by Diageo, the drinks group behind many Scotch whisky brands, including the three-distillery Singleton range.
Which Singleton of Glendullan whisky is a good starting point?
The 12 Year Old is the most approachable introduction to the Glendullan range, with official notes of citrus, raisins, honey, vanilla and a gently creamy finish. Flavour preference remains personal.
Why are there two Glendullan distilleries?
A larger distillery was built next to the original in 1972 to meet demand. They worked alongside each other until 1985, when the Victorian plant stopped production. The newer plant continued making Glendullan whisky.
Can visitors tour Glendullan Distillery?
A regular public Glendullan visitor-centre or tour programme has not been verified. The Singleton offers bookable visitor experiences at Glen Ord; in Speyside, nearby distilleries such as Glenfiddich and Balvenie have organised visitor options.
Sources and image credits
Featured photograph: 'Glendullan Distillery, Dufftown' by Christopher Gillan via Geograph / Wikimedia Commons, reused under CC BY-SA 2.0 without alteration. The bottle gallery uses images credited to Colonial Spirits, Diageo Malts and Dram Cellars, linked above.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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