Dailuaine 17 Years Old 2005 Cask #DL 15591 (Old Particular)

This Dailuaine was bottled by the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, a 17 year old, distilled in 2005, from cask DL 15591, bottled at 48.4%, one of 695 bottles. Dailuaine was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie, and was the first distillery to wear the pagoda roof. Its rich, robust malt has long been a backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends.

Made in large copper stills for a rich, robust make, to build a robust, malty, sherry loving character. An Oloroso hogshead lent fig, raisin and a savoury, nutty depth, the heavy spirit soaking it up. At oxidative maturity aldehydes and esters lend dried fruit while ellagitannins add a drying, savoury grip. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit over a rich malt. Refill oak lets the robust Dailuaine character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath. The big stills give a heavy spirit that takes a long, sherried maturation in its stride.

At its natural 48.4% it is concentrated. Baked fruit, fig and a savoury depth, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dried fruit and a malty depth give it weight. The finish is long, rich and savoury. This is one of Speyside's heavier single malts.