Dailuaine 12 Years Old 2011 The Single Malts of Scotland Small Batch (Elixir)

A 12 year old Dailuaine from Sukhinder Singh's Elixir Distillers, distilled in 2011, bottled at 48%. Dailuaine sits at Carron on the Spey, a big, sherried Speyside malt rarely seen on its own. In 1889 it became the first distillery to use the pagoda roof, the Doig Ventilator designed by Charles Doig.

Distilled in large conical necked stills on Bailliemullich Burn water, for the rich, full bodied make Dailuaine is known for. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin, fig and walnut to the robust 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. Long ageing turns the fresh fruit towards dried fruit, fig, leather and a warm spice. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron.

At cask strength 48% it is full bodied. Malt, dried fruit and a rich spice, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Dried fruit, malt and a savoury spice fill the middle. A full, malty finish ends on dried fruit and a warm spice. This is the rich, full bodied Speyside malt of Dailuaine.