Dailuaine 11 Years Old 2009 Cask #301064 (James Eadie)

This Dailuaine was bottled by the revived blender James Eadie, an 11 year old, distilled in 2009, from cask 301064, bottled at 55.6%, one of 219 bottles. Dailuaine, whose name is Gaelic for the green vale, is a heavy, full bodied Speysider. A fire in 1917 destroyed the maltings, and the distillery was rebuilt soon after.

The spirit was drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, giving the heavy, meaty spirit at its heart. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the oak letting the heavy, malty character lead. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the heavy body fuller and richer. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit over a rich malt. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the rich, malty core over the years. A first fill sherry cask suits the robust spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight. Refill oak lets the robust Dailuaine character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath.

At cask strength 55.6% it is full bodied. A robust, sherried maltiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. Dried fruit, malt and a savoury oak see out the finish. This is a rich, malty Speyside single malt.