Dailuaine 13 Years Old 2011 Cask #800412 (Best Dram)

A Dailuaine of a 13 year old chosen by the bottler Best Dram, distilled in 2011, from cask 800412, bottled at 55.9%, one of 223 bottles. Dailuaine, founded in 1852, gave Scotch its first pagoda roofed kiln. Most of its make goes to blending, with a Flora and Fauna sixteen year old the regular single malt.

It was run through the distillery's big copper stills, for a big, full Speyside spirit. A bourbon barrel held it, vanilla and a soft spice over the malty spirit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper orchard fruit over the meaty malt. Most Dailuaine goes quietly into blends, a robust filler kept in part as single malt. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to dried fruit and a savoury spice. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron.

At its natural 55.9% it is concentrated. A rich, full bodied sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is heavy, the fruit carried on a meaty, malty body. A long, full finish carries a savoury depth. This is Dailuaine's heavy, meaty Speyside style.