Dailuaine 13 Years Old 2008 (Hepburn’s Choice)

This Dailuaine was bottled by the independent Hunter Laing, a 13 year old, distilled in 2008, bottled at 46%, one of 856 bottles. Dailuaine is a full bodied Speyside malt of real depth, mostly bottled by independents. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron.

It was distilled for the heavy, full bodied spirit Dailuaine is known for, 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. Long ageing turns the fresh fruit towards dried fruit, fig, leather and a warm spice. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation, the heavy malt deepening. It had its own railway siding and a little locomotive, Dailuaine No.1, known as the Puggy.

At an approachable 46% it is soft and easy. Malt, dried fruit and a rich spice, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dried fruit and a malty depth give it weight. A full, malty finish ends on dried fruit and a warm spice. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real depth.