Glendullan Distillery
Glendullan Distillery was the seventh distillery to be built in Dufftown — "the Whisky Capital of Scotland" — when Aberdeen blender and broker William Williams founded it in 1897. Named after the Dullan Water that runs through Dufftown, the distillery is one of Diageo's largest Speyside operations, producing approximately 3.7 million litres of alcohol per year from 3 wash stills and 3 spirit stills. Since 2007 its output has been sold under The Singleton brand, positioned specifically for the North American market — distinct from Dufftown Distillery's Singleton for Europe and Glen Ord's Singleton for Asia. Water comes from the Conval Hill springs.
Tours
Not available
On-site Shop
No shop
Online Shop
Not available
History
William Williams of Aberdeen founded Glendullan in 1897, adding to the remarkable concentration of distilleries that gave Dufftown its enduring whisky reputation. The new distillery quickly established prestige: by 1902 its whisky had earned favour at the court of King Edward VII, and Williams began supplying it to the royal household.
In 1925 Williams merged his operation with Greenlees Brothers and the combined company joined The Distillers Company Limited — beginning Glendullan's long association with the Scotch whisky establishment. The distillery became part of Diageo in 1997 following the merger of Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan.
A second, larger distillery was constructed on the same Glendullan site in 1972, operating alongside the original facility to meet growing demand. The two sites ran in parallel until 1985, when the original 1897 distillery was closed and production consolidated in the modern facility. In 2007 Diageo launched The Singleton of Glendullan, targeted specifically at the USA, completing the tripartite Singleton brand architecture of Glendullan (Americas), Dufftown (Europe), and Glen Ord (Asia). An official 12 Year Old had previously appeared in the discontinued Flora & Fauna series; the 2023 Singleton range extended the offer to 12, 15, and 18 Year Old expressions.
Production
Water comes from the Conval Hill springs (also known as Goats Well Spring). The distillery operates 3 wash stills and 3 spirit stills with an annual capacity of approximately 3.7 million litres. The stills have an onion-shaped design that encourages a lighter, more elegant spirit style. Approximately 97% of production goes into Diageo's blended Scotch whiskies; only around 3% is bottled as single malt.
Tasting Character
Glendullan's onion-shaped stills produce a delicate, light spirit. Prominent tasting notes include green apple, fresh pear, and cut grass. The whisky is known for its fruitiness with gentle hints of vanilla, nuts, and mild spice. The Singleton character is deliberately approachable, smooth, and slightly sweet — designed for the North American consumer who values accessibility and food-friendliness in a single malt.
What They Produce
Notable Bottlings
- The Singleton of Glendullan 12 Year Old£68.16 — 40% ABV; light, fruity, and accessible; the core expression
- The Singleton of Glendullan 15 Year Old£84.60 — 40% ABV; greater depth and dried fruit character
- The Singleton of Glendullan 18 Year Old£1000.00 — 40% ABV; richer with dark chocolate and oak
- Glendullan 12 Year Old (Flora & Fauna)£68.16 — Historic Diageo series bottling, now discontinued
- Independent bottlings — Various expressions from the 1897 and 1972 distilleries appear through independent bottlers
Buy their whiskey
Browse our affiliate whisky retailers for Glendullan Distillery and more.
The Whisky Barrel
The Whisky Shop
Loch Fyne Whiskies
Master of Malt
The Whisky Exchange
Digital Distiller
We earn a commission from purchases through these links at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure
Visiting
Glendullan is not open to regular public visits. There is no official distillery website or visitor centre.