Dailuaine 17 Years Old 1997 The First Editions (Edition Spirits)

A 17 year old Dailuaine from the bottler Edition Spirits, distilled in 1997, bottled at 58.3%, one of 268 bottles. Dailuaine sits at Carron on the Spey, a big, sherried Speyside malt rarely seen on its own. It sits near Aberlour, in the heart of Speyside by the River Spey.

It was drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, giving the heavy, meaty spirit at its heart. A bourbon barrel held it, vanilla and a soft spice over the malty spirit. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (apple and dried fruit) over the meaty, malty depth. The big stills give a heavy spirit that takes a long, sherried maturation in its stride. Maturation in the cool north east keeps the rich spirit balanced over the years. A fire in 1917 destroyed the maltings, and the distillery was rebuilt soon after. It passed to DCL and Scottish Malt Distillers in the 1920s and was later modernised.

At a hearty 58.3% it carries real weight. Dried fruit, malt and a rich, savoury depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The texture is full and rich, the fruit lifted by a meaty malt. The finish runs meaty, fruity and warm. This is the rich, full bodied Speyside malt of Dailuaine.