Dailuaine 13 Years Old 2009 (The Dava Way)

A 13 year old Dailuaine from the bottler The Dava Way, distilled in 2009, bottled at 50%, one of 510 bottles. Dailuaine is a Diageo Speyside distillery, its robust malt the backbone of many a blend. It had its own railway siding and a little locomotive, Dailuaine No.1, known as the Puggy.

The spirit was run through the distillery's big copper stills, to build a robust, malty, sherry loving character. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the rich character to the fore. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the malt, fruit deepening to dried fruit. Most Dailuaine goes quietly into blends, a robust filler kept in part as single malt. Single malt Dailuaine is rare as an official bottling, so most come from independents. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to dried fruit and a savoury spice. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the meaty malt.

Bottled at a cask strength 50%, it is rich. Baked fruit, fig and a savoury depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The texture is full and rich, the fruit lifted by a meaty malt. The finish runs meaty, fruity and warm. This is a rich, malty Speyside single malt.