Dallas Dhu 33 Years Old 1975 Cask #1899 (Signatory)

This Dallas Dhu was bottled by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 33 year old, distilled in 1975, from cask 1899, bottled at 46.7%, one of 181 bottles. Dallas Dhu is a closed Speyside distillery, kept intact as a working museum by Historic Environment Scotland. It was designed by Charles Doig, the great distillery architect, with his pagoda roofed kiln.

Distilled in a single pair of pot stills with worm tubs on Altyre Burn water, building the old fashioned Dallas Dhu style. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, soft oak that lets the malty, oily character lead. Ethereal and old, decades draw the malt to a waxy, honeyed delicacy of sotolon, old oak and dried fruit. Refill oak lets the malty Dallas Dhu character lead, orchard fruit and honey beneath. The malty, fruity spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its oily, honeyed core. Closed in 1983, it was preserved whole rather than demolished, its profile fixed for good.

At a hearty 46.7% it carries real weight. Apple, toffee and a malty oil, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is oily, the fruit carried on a malty body. The finish is long, fruity and oily. This is Dallas Dhu, the dark water valley, preserved as a museum.