Dailuaine 13 Years Old 2009 Cask #313945+313946+313950 (van Wees)

The bottler van Wees bottled this Dailuaine, a 13 year old, distilled in 2009, from cask 313945+313946+313950, bottled at 46%. Dailuaine sits at Carron on the Spey, a big, sherried Speyside malt rarely seen on its own. Single malt Dailuaine is rare as an official bottling, so most come from independents.

It was run through the distillery's big copper stills, for a big, full Speyside spirit. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding vanilla and a soft honey. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the heavy body fuller and richer. The rich, full bodied spirit takes cask flavour well, especially sherry wood. Refill oak lets the robust Dailuaine character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath. Dailuaine's heavy, malty make is prized by blenders for the body it gives. Its big stills give a heavy, full bodied spirit that takes sherry wood especially well.

At 46% it is smooth and honeyed. Baked fruit, fig and a savoury depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft orchard fruit and a rich malt sit behind the cask. Dried fruit, malt and a savoury oak see out the finish. This is a rich, dried fruit laden Speyside single malt.