Dailuaine 24 Years Old 1995 Cask #7208 (Morrison and MacKay)

From the bottler Morrison and MacKay, a 24 year old Dailuaine, distilled in 1995, from cask 7208, bottled at 43.9%, one of 160 bottles. Dailuaine was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie, and was the first distillery to wear the pagoda roof. A fire in 1917 destroyed the maltings, and the distillery was rebuilt soon after.

It was drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, for a rich, meaty make that suits sherry wood. A bourbon barrel held it, vanilla and a soft spice over the malty spirit. Through the evaporative decades the spirit concentrates, esters folding into dried fruit, leather and a warm spice. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to dried fruit and a savoury spice. Single malt Dailuaine is rare as an official bottling, so most come from independents. Most of its make goes to blending, with a Flora and Fauna sixteen year old the regular single malt.

At a hearty 43.9% it carries real weight. A rich, full bodied sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. 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 the rich, full bodied Speyside malt of Dailuaine.