Dailuaine 12 Years Old 2007 Cask #120461 & 62 (House of McCallum)

The bottler House of McCallum bottled this Dailuaine, a 12 year old, distilled in 2007, from cask 120461 & 62, bottled at 46.5%, one of 565 bottles. Dailuaine is a Diageo Speyside distillery, its robust malt the backbone of many a blend. Single malt Dailuaine is rare as an official bottling, so most come from independents.

The spirit was run through the distillery's big copper stills, giving the heavy, meaty spirit at its heart. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the rich character to the fore. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper orchard fruit over the meaty malt. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the meaty malt. In 1889 it became the first distillery to use the pagoda roof, the Doig Ventilator designed by Charles Doig. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation, the heavy malt deepening.

At an approachable 46.5% it is soft and easy. Apple, dried fruit and a meaty edge, 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 Dailuaine, a backbone of the great blends.