Dailuaine 19 Years Old 1996 Grindlay’s Selection Single Cask Release (Scotland Grindlay Ltd.)

A Dailuaine of a 19 year old chosen by the bottler Scotland Grindlay Ltd, distilled in 1996, bottled at 57%, one of 236 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.

The spirit was run through the distillery's big copper stills, for the rich, full bodied make Dailuaine is known for. 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. A first fill sherry cask suits the robust spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight. Single malt Dailuaine is rare as an official bottling, so most come from independents. The name is Gaelic for the green vale, after the hollow in which the distillery sits. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to dried fruit and a savoury spice.

At its natural 57% it is concentrated. A robust, sherried maltiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Dried fruit, malt and a savoury spice fill the middle. A long, full finish carries a savoury depth. This is one of Speyside's heavier single malts.