Dailuaine 11 Years Old 2011 Cask #305062 (Finn Thomson)

A Dailuaine of an 11 year old chosen by the bottler Finn Thomson, distilled in 2011, from cask 305062, bottled at 59.2%, one of 250 bottles. Dailuaine, founded in 1852, gave Scotch its first pagoda roofed kiln. It sits near Aberlour, in the heart of Speyside by the River Spey.

It was distilled in large conical necked stills on Bailliemullich Burn water, for a rich, meaty make that suits sherry wood. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a soft honey behind the rich malt. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the heavy body fuller and richer. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation, the heavy malt deepening. The full bodied make rewards a long, patient maturation in good wood. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron. Most Dailuaine goes quietly into blends, a robust filler kept in part as single malt.

At 59.2%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. Dried fruit, malt and a rich, savoury depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a malty depth give it weight. The finish is deep, rich and savoury. This is the rich, full bodied Speyside malt of Dailuaine.