Dailuaine 26 Years Old 1974 (Connoisseurs Choice)

A Dailuaine of a 26 year old chosen by the Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail, distilled in 1974, bottled at 40%. Dailuaine is a full bodied Speyside malt of real depth, mostly bottled by independents. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron.

Distilled in large conical necked stills on Bailliemullich Burn water, for a big, full Speyside spirit. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a soft honey behind the rich malt. Through the evaporative decades the spirit concentrates, esters folding into dried fruit, leather and a warm spice. The big stills give a heavy spirit that takes a long, sherried maturation in its stride. The rich, full bodied spirit takes cask flavour well, especially sherry wood. Refill oak lets the robust Dailuaine character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath. Its big stills give a heavy, full bodied spirit that takes sherry wood especially well.

Bottled at 40%, it is rounded. A robust, sherried maltiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is heavy, the fruit carried on a meaty, malty body. A long, full finish carries a savoury depth. This is one of Speyside's heavier single malts.