Dailuaine 12 Years Old 2008 Cask #800058 (van Wees)

From the bottler van Wees, a 12 year old Dailuaine, distilled in 2008, from cask 800058, bottled at 46%, one of 288 bottles. Dailuaine is a full bodied Speyside malt of real depth, mostly bottled by independents. Single malt Dailuaine is rare as an official bottling, so most come from independents.

It was drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, to build a robust, malty, sherry loving character. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a soft honey behind the rich malt. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the malt, fruit deepening to dried fruit. The big stills give a heavy spirit that takes a long, sherried maturation in its stride. Refill oak lets the robust Dailuaine character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath. The rich, full bodied spirit takes cask flavour well, especially sherry wood. Most Dailuaine goes quietly into blends, a robust filler kept in part as single malt.

Reduced to 46%, it is mellow. Dried fruit, malt and a rich, savoury depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. The close is long, fruit over a rich malt. This is one of Speyside's heavier single malts.