Dailuaine 7 Years Old 2016 (Phil & Simon Thompson)

This Dailuaine was bottled by the bottler Phil & Simon Thompson, a 7 year old, distilled in 2016, bottled at 57.1%, one of 1006 bottles. Dailuaine is a rich, meaty Speyside single malt from the banks of the Spey near Aberlour. In 1889 it became the first distillery to use the pagoda roof, the Doig Ventilator designed by Charles Doig.

It was drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, for a big, full Speyside spirit. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin, fig and walnut to the robust malt. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and lactones a coconut, the spirit rich, malty and full. Most Dailuaine goes quietly into blends, a robust filler kept in part as single malt. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation, the heavy malt deepening. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron.

At its natural 57.1% it is concentrated. Baked fruit, fig and a savoury depth, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, malt and a savoury edge. A long, full finish carries a savoury depth. This is the robust, sherried malt of Carron.