Dailuaine 21 Years Old 1980 Cask #4150 (Adelphi)

From the Adelphi bottler, a 21 year old Dailuaine, distilled in 1980, from cask 4150, bottled at 56.1%, one of 296 bottles. Dailuaine, founded in 1852, gave Scotch its first pagoda roofed kiln. The name is Gaelic for the green vale, after the hollow in which the distillery sits.

It was drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, building the heavy Dailuaine style. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla beneath the robust, full bodied spirit. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (apple and dried fruit) over the meaty, malty depth. The full bodied make rewards a long, patient maturation in good wood. A fire in 1917 destroyed the maltings, and the distillery was rebuilt soon after. Dailuaine's heavy, malty make is prized by blenders for the body it gives. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the meaty malt.

At 56.1%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. Dried fruit, malt and a rich, savoury depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Dried fruit, malt and a savoury spice fill the middle. The close is long, fruit over a rich malt. This is Dailuaine's heavy, meaty Speyside style.