Dailuaine 11 Years Old 2010 Cask #303777 (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd.)

An 11 year old Dailuaine from the bottler The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd, distilled in 2010, from cask 303777, bottled at 53%, one of 306 bottles. Dailuaine sits at Carron on the Spey, a big, sherried Speyside malt rarely seen on its own. Its big stills give a heavy, full bodied spirit that takes sherry wood especially well.

The spirit was worked through the big stills for a meaty, malty spirit, building the heavy Dailuaine style. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the oak letting the heavy, malty character lead. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper orchard fruit over the meaty malt. The rich, full bodied spirit takes cask flavour well, especially sherry wood. Dailuaine's heavy, malty make is prized by blenders for the body it gives. Long ageing turns the fresh fruit towards dried fruit, fig, leather and a warm spice.

At a natural 53% it is full and honeyed. A rich, full bodied sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is robust and fruity, the full bodied spirit shining through. A long, full finish carries a savoury depth. This is a rich, dried fruit laden Speyside single malt.