Dailuaine 14 Years Old 2010 Cask #308853 (Saltire Rare Malt)

The bottler Saltire Rare Malt bottled this Dailuaine, a 14 year old, distilled in 2010, from cask 308853, bottled at 48.8%, one of 299 bottles. Dailuaine sits at Carron on the Spey, a big, sherried Speyside malt rarely seen on its own. In 1889 it became the first distillery to use the pagoda roof, the Doig Ventilator designed by Charles Doig.

It was worked through the big stills for a meaty, malty spirit, building the heavy Dailuaine style. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla over the robust spirit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper orchard fruit over the meaty malt. Refill oak lets the robust Dailuaine character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation, the heavy malt deepening. Maturation in the cool north east keeps the rich spirit balanced over the years.

At cask strength 48.8% it is full bodied. Orchard fruit, malt and a warm spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Dried fruit, malt and a savoury spice fill the middle. A long, full finish carries a savoury depth. This is the rich, full bodied Speyside malt of Dailuaine.