Dailuaine 12 Years Old 2008 Cask #307138 (Pendulum Spirits Ltd)

Pendulum Spirits bottled this Dailuaine, a 12 year old, distilled in 2008, from cask 307138, bottled at 54.8%, one of 267 bottles. Dailuaine is the rich, malty Speyside single malt that helped build the Johnnie Walker blends. Its big stills give a heavy, full bodied spirit that takes sherry wood especially well.

It was worked through the big stills for a meaty, malty spirit, for a rich, meaty make that suits sherry wood. A bourbon barrel held it, vanilla and a soft spice over the malty spirit. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the heavy body fuller and richer. Maturation in the cool north east keeps the rich spirit balanced over the years. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron. Most of its make goes to blending, with a Flora and Fauna sixteen year old the regular single malt.

At its natural 54.8% it is concentrated. Dried fruit, malt and a rich, savoury depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft orchard fruit and a rich malt sit behind the cask. The finish is deep, rich and savoury. This is Dailuaine, a backbone of the great blends.