Dufftown-Glenlivet 2009/2026 Cadenheads Original Collection 16 year old Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%

There are seven distilleries in Dufftown, and locals like to say the town stands on quite as many stills as it does hills. Most of what runs out of Dufftown's stills never sees a bottle with its own name on it — it disappears into Bell's, Dewar's and Johnnie Walker's blends, unnoticed and unnamed. Cadenhead's caught a little of it anyway, and let it sit in bourbon casks since 2009.

Expert description

Dufftown-Glenlivet 16 Year Old from Cadenhead's Original Collection is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Bourbon Hogsheads and bottled at 46%.

Original Collection is Cadenhead's ongoing range of single-distillery releases, all bottled without added colour or chill filtration at the same fixed strength. Dufftown itself sends almost everything it distils into blends, so a solo release under its own name is a rare find — most people who've tasted this distillery's character have done so without knowing it. The whisky was distilled in 2009 from unpeated malt, and has spent its entire life in bourbon hogsheads with no finish or additional cask change along the way. It was bottled in August 2026, carrying Cadenhead's usual plain label — distillery, age and strength, nothing more.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose opens with pear drops and baked apples, a dusting of icing sugar, and the soft vanilla warmth of a victoria sponge fresh from the oven.

Palate

On the palate, tinned peaches in syrup meet the almond sweetness of a bakewell pudding, a tart edge of lemon curd, and a touch of raspberry.

Finish

The finish settles soft, with sugared almonds and rolled oats, and a last trace of golden syrup that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Dufftown-Glenlivet 16 Year Old
Distillery: Dufftown-Glenlivet
Bottler: Cadenhead's
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Bourbon Hogsheads
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: August 2026
Edition: Original Collection
EAN no.: 610854013080

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Sweet · Soft · Lightly Spiced

Did You Know?

Dufftown started life as a corn mill before Peter Mackenzie and co. converted it into a distillery in 1895 — and today it's almost impossible to find a drop of its spirit carrying the distillery's own name on the label without going through an independent bottler like Cadenhead's.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Dufftown-Glenlivet 16 Year Old

What does Dufftown-Glenlivet 16 Year Old taste like?

It's sweet and fruity, with baked pears and apples on the nose, peaches and almond pastry on the palate, and a soft finish of sugared almonds and golden syrup. There's no smoke and no heavy cask tone — the bourbon hogsheads have given it a round, easy-drinking character.

Why is Dufftown so hard to find as a single malt?

Because the distillery mainly produces spirit for blends like Bell's and Johnnie Walker. Only a small share of its annual output is ever bottled under its own name, and when it is, it's usually through an independent bottler like Cadenhead's rather than the distillery itself.

Is Dufftown-Glenlivet 16 Year Old worth it?

Yes, given how rare it is. A 16 year old Dufftown under its own name is an unusual thing to find on the shelf, and the quality from straightforward bourbon cask maturation makes it a solid dram for what it offers.

Should Dufftown-Glenlivet 16 Year Old be served with ice or neat?

Neat or with a few drops of water is best. At 46%, a little water opens up the sweetness without killing it, while ice shuts down the soft fruit and pastry notes that are the whole point of this release.

Which glass suits Dufftown-Glenlivet 16 Year Old best?

A Glencairn glass or another tulip-shaped whisky glass gathers the aromas best and brings out both the pear sweetness and the baked notes. See our range of whisky glasses.

What is Cadenhead's Original Collection?

It's Cadenhead's standing range of single-distillery releases, all bottled at 46%, without added colour and without chill filtration. The series is built to give an honest, unfiltered read on each distillery's character — no finish, no colouring, no high strength to hide behind.

Where is the Dufftown distillery, and what is it known for?

Dufftown sits at the heart of Speyside and is one of Diageo's largest distilleries, built in 1895. It's best known as the backbone of the Bell's blend, but also supplies malt to Dewar's and Johnnie Walker — and carries the name Singleton of Dufftown on the rare occasions it appears as an official single malt.