Dailuaine 17 Years Old 2008 Cask #3 (Signatory)

A 17 year old Dailuaine from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2008, from cask 3, bottled at 57.2%, one of 660 bottles. Dailuaine is a rich, meaty Speyside single malt from the banks of the Spey near Aberlour. In 1889 it became the first distillery to use the pagoda roof, the Doig Ventilator designed by Charles Doig.

It was drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, giving the heavy, meaty spirit at its heart. A Pedro Ximenez cask added raisin, date and a treacle sweetness. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, fruit turning to dried fruit over a rich, malty body. Refill oak lets the robust Dailuaine character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath. Its big stills give a heavy, full bodied spirit that takes sherry wood especially well. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation, the heavy malt deepening.

Bottled at a cask strength 57.2%, it is rich. Malt, dried fruit and a rich spice, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The texture is full and rich, the fruit lifted by a meaty malt. Dried fruit, malt and a savoury oak see out the finish. This is one of Speyside's heavier single malts.