Dailuaine 21 Years Old 1998 Cask #DL 13948 (Old Particular)

This Dailuaine was bottled by the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, a 21 year old, distilled in 1998, from cask DL 13948, bottled at 51.5%, one of 301 bottles. Dailuaine is a full bodied Speyside malt of real depth, mostly bottled by independents. Its rich, robust malt has long been a backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends.

It was run through the distillery's big copper stills, giving the heavy, meaty spirit at its heart. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the rich character to the fore. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, fruit turning to dried fruit over a rich, malty body. Maturation in the cool north east keeps the rich spirit balanced over the years. Its big stills give a heavy, full bodied spirit that takes sherry wood especially well. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit over a rich malt.

At 51.5%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. A heavy, malty fruitiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is robust and fruity, the full bodied spirit shining through. A full, malty finish ends on dried fruit and a warm spice. This is Dailuaine, a backbone of the great blends.