Dailuaine 15 Years Old 2001 Cask #68 (Samaroli)

This Dailuaine was bottled by the bottler Samaroli, a 15 year old, distilled in 2001, from cask 68, bottled at 45%, one of 340 bottles. Dailuaine, whose name is Gaelic for the green vale, is a heavy, full bodied Speysider. It passed to DCL and Scottish Malt Distillers in the 1920s and was later modernised.

Run through the distillery's big copper stills, building the heavy Dailuaine style. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla over the robust spirit. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, fruit turning to dried fruit over a rich, malty body. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to dried fruit and a savoury spice. The rich, full bodied spirit takes cask flavour well, especially sherry wood. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation, the heavy malt deepening. The full bodied make rewards a long, patient maturation in good wood.

Bottled at 45%, it is rounded. A heavy, malty fruitiness, 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 full bodied Speyside single malt of real depth.