Dailuaine 7 Years Old (Premier Barrel)

The Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing bottled this Dailuaine, a 7 year old, bottled at 46%, one of 400 bottles. Dailuaine is a rich, meaty Speyside single malt from the banks of the Spey near Aberlour. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron.

Distilled for the heavy, full bodied spirit Dailuaine is known for, building the heavy Dailuaine style. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the oak letting the heavy, malty character lead. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and oak lactones as coconut over a robust, meaty malt. The big stills give a heavy spirit that takes a long, sherried maturation in its stride. Long ageing turns the fresh fruit towards dried fruit, fig, leather and a warm spice. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to dried fruit and a savoury spice. It had its own railway siding and a little locomotive, Dailuaine No.1, known as the Puggy.

Reduced to 46%, it is mellow. Dried fruit, malt and a rich, savoury depth, 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 one of Speyside's heavier single malts.