Dailuaine 19 Years Old 1997 Cask #7216 + 7217 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage bottled this Dailuaine, a 19 year old, distilled in 1997, from cask 7216 + 7217, bottled at 46%. Dailuaine is the rich, malty Speyside single malt that helped build the Johnnie Walker blends. It sits near Aberlour, in the heart of Speyside by the River Spey.

The spirit was drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, for a rich, meaty make that suits sherry wood. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a soft honey behind the rich malt. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, fruit turning to dried fruit over a rich, malty body. The full bodied make rewards a long, patient maturation in good wood. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit over a rich malt. Water comes from the Bailliemullich Burn, the spirit drawn off three wash and three spirit stills. Its rich, robust malt has long been a backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends.

At 46% it is clean and soft. Orchard fruit, malt and a warm spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is robust and fruity, the full bodied spirit shining through. The finish is long, rich and savoury. This is Dailuaine's heavy, meaty Speyside style.