Dailuaine 16 Years Old 1997 (Simon Brown Traders)

From the bottler Simon Brown Traders, a 16 year old Dailuaine, distilled in 1997, bottled at 46%. Dailuaine is a Diageo Speyside distillery, its robust malt the backbone of many a blend. It passed to DCL and Scottish Malt Distillers in the 1920s and was later modernised.

The spirit was made in large copper stills for a rich, robust make, 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. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (apple and dried fruit) over the meaty, malty depth. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to dried fruit and a savoury spice. Water comes from the Bailliemullich Burn, the spirit drawn off three wash and three spirit stills. Long ageing turns the fresh fruit towards dried fruit, fig, leather and a warm spice. The big stills give a heavy spirit that takes a long, sherried maturation in its stride.

At 46% it is smooth and honeyed. A rich, full bodied sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a malty depth give it weight. Dried fruit, malt and a savoury oak see out the finish. This is Dailuaine's heavy, meaty Speyside style.