Dailuaine 13 Years Old 2011 Cask #0720 (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd.)

From the bottler The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd, a 13 year old Dailuaine, distilled in 2011, from cask 0720, bottled at 53.5%, one of 300 bottles. Dailuaine is a robust Speyside distillery at Carron, making a full bodied malt mostly for blends. Its rich, robust malt has long been a backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends.

It was run through the distillery's big copper stills, for a rich, meaty make that suits sherry wood. A Bordeaux or red wine cask gave red berry and a dry spice. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the malt, fruit deepening to dried fruit. Refill oak lets the robust Dailuaine character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation, the heavy malt deepening. A first fill sherry cask suits the robust spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight.

At cask strength 53.5% it is full bodied. Orchard fruit, malt and a warm spice, with plum, red berry and chocolate 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 Dailuaine's heavy, meaty Speyside style.