Dailuaine 14 Years Old 2005 Cask #800127 (Ian Macleod)

The bottler Ian Macleod bottled this Dailuaine, a 14 year old, distilled in 2005, from cask 800127, bottled at 46%, one of 214 bottles. Dailuaine is a rich, meaty Speyside single malt from the banks of the Spey near Aberlour. Single malt Dailuaine is rare as an official bottling, so most come from independents.

It was distilled in large conical necked stills on Bailliemullich Burn water, for the rich, full bodied make Dailuaine is known for. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a soft honey behind the rich malt. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the rich, full bodied spirit growing rounder. Maturation in the cool north east keeps the rich spirit balanced over the years. It passed to DCL and Scottish Malt Distillers in the 1920s and was later modernised. A first fill sherry cask suits the robust spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight.

At 46% it is gentle, sweet and fruity. A heavy, malty fruitiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is heavy, the fruit carried on a meaty, malty body. The close is long, fruit over a rich malt. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real depth.