Dailuaine 8 Years Old 2008 (Simon Brown Traders)

This Dailuaine was bottled by the bottler Simon Brown Traders, an 8 year old, distilled in 2008, bottled at 43%. Dailuaine was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie, and was the first distillery to wear the pagoda roof. It sits near Aberlour, in the heart of Speyside by the River Spey.

The spirit was worked through the big stills for a meaty, malty spirit, building the heavy Dailuaine style. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the meaty malt. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted sugars (light caramel) over the heavy spirit. Long ageing turns the fresh fruit towards dried fruit, fig, leather and a warm spice. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron. Refill oak lets the robust Dailuaine character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath. It passed to DCL and Scottish Malt Distillers in the 1920s and was later modernised.

Reduced to 43%, it is mellow. Orchard fruit, malt and a warm spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Dried fruit, malt and a savoury spice fill the middle. It finishes robust, malty and warm. This is one of Speyside's heavier single malts.