Dailuaine 13 Years Old 2008 Cask #303813 (Lady of the Glen)

The bottler Lady of the Glen bottled this Dailuaine, a 13 year old, distilled in 2008, from cask 303813, bottled at 53.7%, one of 265 bottles. Dailuaine sits at Carron on the Spey, a big, sherried Speyside malt rarely seen on its own. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron.

It was drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, building the heavy Dailuaine style. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the meaty, malty spirit. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the malt, fruit deepening to dried fruit. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation, the heavy malt deepening. Refill oak lets the robust Dailuaine character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath. Single malt Dailuaine is rare as an official bottling, so most come from independents.

At a natural 53.7% it is full and honeyed. Orchard fruit, malt and a warm spice, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The mouthfeel is heavy, the fruit carried on a meaty, malty body. The finish is deep, rich and savoury. This is the rich, full bodied Speyside malt of Dailuaine.