Dailuaine 10 Years Old 2008 Cask #800053 (van Wees)

A 10 year old Dailuaine from the bottler van Wees, distilled in 2008, from cask 800053, bottled at 46%, one of 319 bottles. Dailuaine is a rich, meaty Speyside single malt from the banks of the Spey near Aberlour. It passed to DCL and Scottish Malt Distillers in the 1920s and was later modernised.

The spirit was run through the distillery's big copper stills, building the heavy Dailuaine style. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the rich character to the fore. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the rich, full bodied spirit growing rounder. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit over a rich malt. Maturation in the cool north east keeps the rich spirit balanced over the years. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation, the heavy malt deepening. Its rich, robust malt has long been a backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends.

At an approachable 46% it is soft and easy. Baked fruit, fig and a savoury depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a malty depth give it weight. The finish is long, rich and savoury. This is the robust, sherried malt of Carron.