Dailuaine 22 Years Old 1997 Cask #7247+7252 (Signatory)

A 22 year old Dailuaine from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 1997, from cask 7247+7252, bottled at 43%, one of 431 bottles. Dailuaine is a robust Speyside distillery at Carron, making a full bodied malt mostly for blends. It had its own railway siding and a little locomotive, Dailuaine No.1, known as the Puggy.

It was drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, building the heavy Dailuaine style. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla over the robust spirit. In the oxidative, evaporative years concentration brings dried fruit, fig and a savoury depth over a rich malt. A first fill sherry cask suits the robust spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight. 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. Long ageing turns the fresh fruit towards dried fruit, fig, leather and a warm spice.

At 43% it is clean and soft. Dried fruit, malt and a rich, savoury depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a malty depth give it weight. The close is long, fruit over a rich malt. This is Dailuaine's heavy, meaty Speyside style.