Dailuaine 15 Years Old 2008 Cask #HL 20021 (Old Malt Cask)

A Dailuaine of a 15 year old chosen by the independent Hunter Laing, distilled in 2008, from cask HL 20021, bottled at 50%, one of 650 bottles. Dailuaine, founded in 1852, gave Scotch its first pagoda roofed kiln. Single malt Dailuaine is rare as an official bottling, so most come from independents.

It was made in large copper stills for a rich, robust make, building the heavy Dailuaine style. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin, fig and walnut to the robust malt. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, fruit turning to dried fruit over a rich, malty body. Dailuaine's heavy, malty make is prized by blenders for the body it gives. It had its own railway siding and a little locomotive, Dailuaine No.1, known as the Puggy. In 1889 it became the first distillery to use the pagoda roof, the Doig Ventilator designed by Charles Doig. The big stills give a heavy spirit that takes a long, sherried maturation in its stride.

At its natural 50% it is concentrated. A heavy, malty fruitiness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft orchard fruit and a rich malt sit behind the cask. The finish is deep, rich and savoury. This is the rich, full bodied Speyside malt of Dailuaine.