Dailuaine 13 Years Old 1998 Cask #Batch 0001 (Duncan Taylor)

The Huntly bottler Duncan Taylor bottled this Dailuaine, a 13 year old, distilled in 1998, from cask Batch 0001, bottled at 46%. Dailuaine is a Diageo Speyside distillery, its robust malt the backbone of many a blend. Its big stills give a heavy, full bodied spirit that takes sherry wood especially well.

Made in large copper stills for a rich, robust make, for a rich, meaty make that suits sherry wood. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla over the robust spirit. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the heavy body fuller and richer. A first fill sherry cask suits the robust spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight. The big stills give a heavy spirit that takes a long, sherried maturation in its stride. The rich, full bodied spirit takes cask flavour well, especially sherry wood. The name is Gaelic for the green vale, after the hollow in which the distillery sits.

At 46% it is gentle, sweet and fruity. Dried fruit, malt and a rich, savoury depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Dried fruit, malt and a savoury spice fill the middle. The finish runs meaty, fruity and warm. This is a rich, malty Speyside single malt.