Dailuaine 10 Years Old 2008 (Authentic Collection)

Scotland's oldest independent bottler Cadenhead's bottled this Dailuaine, a 10 year old, distilled in 2008, bottled at 60.6%, one of 294 bottles. Dailuaine is the rich, malty Speyside single malt that helped build the Johnnie Walker blends. The name is Gaelic for the green vale, after the hollow in which the distillery sits.

Made in large copper stills for a rich, robust make, building the heavy Dailuaine style. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the meaty malt. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper orchard fruit over the meaty malt. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the meaty malt. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron. Most of its make goes to blending, with a Flora and Fauna sixteen year old the regular single malt.

At a natural 60.6% it is full and honeyed. Malt, dried fruit and a rich spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is robust and fruity, the full bodied spirit shining through. Dried fruit, malt and a savoury oak see out the finish. This is Dailuaine's heavy, meaty Speyside style.