Dailuaine 6 Years Old 2018 Benchmark (Murray McDavid)

A Dailuaine of a 6 year old chosen by the bottler Murray McDavid, distilled in 2018, bottled at 50.1%, one of 1655 bottles. Dailuaine was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie, and was the first distillery to wear the pagoda roof. The name is Gaelic for the green vale, after the hollow in which the distillery sits.

It was distilled for the heavy, full bodied spirit Dailuaine is known for, for a big, full Speyside spirit. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the meaty malt. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and oak lactones as coconut over a robust, meaty malt. Refill oak lets the robust Dailuaine character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath. The full bodied make rewards a long, patient maturation in good wood. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the rich, malty core over the years. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation, the heavy malt deepening.

At its natural 50.1% it is concentrated. Orchard fruit, malt and a warm spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. The finish runs meaty, fruity and warm. This is Dailuaine's heavy, meaty Speyside style.