Dailuaine 12 Years Old 2001 Cask #DMG 10451 (Douglas McGibbon)

This Dailuaine was bottled by the bottler Douglas McGibbon, a 12 year old, distilled in 2001, from cask DMG 10451, bottled at 46%. Dailuaine sits at Carron on the Spey, a big, sherried Speyside malt rarely seen on its own. It passed to DCL and Scottish Malt Distillers in the 1920s and was later modernised.

Run through the distillery's big copper stills, for a big, full Speyside spirit. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the meaty malt. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the rich, full bodied spirit growing rounder. The full bodied make rewards a long, patient maturation in good wood. Dailuaine's heavy, malty make is prized by blenders for the body it gives. In 1889 it became the first distillery to use the pagoda roof, the Doig Ventilator designed by Charles Doig. Maturation in the cool north east keeps the rich spirit balanced over the years.

At 46% it is gentle, sweet and fruity. A heavy, malty fruitiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a malty depth give it weight. Dried fruit, malt and a savoury oak see out the finish. This is a rich, dried fruit laden Speyside single malt.