Dailuaine 31 Years Old 1982 Reflections (The Whisky Agency)

From the bottler The Whisky Agency, a 31 year old Dailuaine, distilled in 1982, bottled at 51.3%, one of 225 bottles. Dailuaine is a robust Speyside distillery at Carron, making a full bodied malt mostly for blends. A fire in 1917 destroyed the maltings, and the distillery was rebuilt soon after.

It was worked through the big stills for a meaty, malty spirit, for a big, full Speyside spirit. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a soft honey behind the rich malt. In its ethereal years the malt is deep and oxidative, faded esters and a touch of sotolon (maple, spice). The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit over a rich malt. It had its own railway siding and a little locomotive, Dailuaine No.1, known as the Puggy. The rich, full bodied spirit takes cask flavour well, especially sherry wood. Long ageing turns the fresh fruit towards dried fruit, fig, leather and a warm spice.

At a natural 51.3% it is full and honeyed. Dried fruit, malt and a rich, savoury depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is robust and fruity, the full bodied spirit shining through. The finish runs meaty, fruity and warm. This is the robust, sherried malt of Carron.