Dailuaine Batch 6 (TBWC)

This Dailuaine was bottled by the bottler That Boutique-y Whisky Company, a 6 year old, bottled at 57.9%, one of 374 bottles. Dailuaine, whose name is Gaelic for the green vale, is a heavy, full bodied Speysider. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron.

Made in large copper stills for a rich, robust make, for the rich, full bodied make Dailuaine is known for. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the meaty malt. 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. A fire in 1917 destroyed the maltings, and the distillery was rebuilt soon after. Maturation in the cool north east keeps the rich spirit balanced over the years. Long ageing turns the fresh fruit towards dried fruit, fig, leather and a warm spice.

At cask strength 57.9% it is full bodied. A robust, sherried maltiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run dried fruit, malt and a savoury edge. It finishes robust, malty and warm. This is the robust, sherried malt of Carron.