Dailuaine 12 Years Old 2010 Cask #308830 (Pendulum Spirits Ltd)

Pendulum Spirits bottled this Dailuaine, a 12 year old, distilled in 2010, from cask 308830, bottled at 58.3%, one of 245 bottles. Dailuaine was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie, and was the first distillery to wear the pagoda roof. Most of its make goes to blending, with a Flora and Fauna sixteen year old the regular single malt.

The spirit was run through the distillery's big copper stills, for a big, full Speyside spirit. A sherry cask wrapped the rich spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth, a fine match for the heavy malt. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the heavy body fuller and richer. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to dried fruit and a savoury spice. In 1889 it became the first distillery to use the pagoda roof, the Doig Ventilator designed by Charles Doig. Dailuaine's heavy, malty make is prized by blenders for the body it gives.

At a natural 58.3% it is full and honeyed. A robust, sherried maltiness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. It finishes robust, malty and warm. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real depth.