Dailuaine 14 Years Old 2007 First Cask (Whisky Import Nederland)

The bottler Whisky Import Nederland bottled this Dailuaine, a 14 year old, distilled in 2007, bottled at 53.1%. Dailuaine was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie, and was the first distillery to wear the pagoda roof. A fire in 1917 destroyed the maltings, and the distillery was rebuilt soon after.

Drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, for a rich, meaty make that suits sherry wood. An Amontillado cask gave a dry, nutty, almond edge. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the heavy body fuller and richer. The big stills give a heavy spirit that takes a long, sherried maturation in its stride. It passed to DCL and Scottish Malt Distillers in the 1920s and was later modernised. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the meaty malt. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit over a rich malt.

At its natural 53.1% it is concentrated. Dried fruit, malt and a rich, savoury depth, with plum, red berry and chocolate from the cask. It is robust and fruity, the full bodied spirit shining through. The finish is deep, rich and savoury. This is a rich, dried fruit laden Speyside single malt.