Dailuaine 8 Years Old 2012 Cask #313003+313004 (Signatory)

An 8 year old Dailuaine from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2012, from cask 313003+313004, bottled at 40%. Dailuaine, founded in 1852, gave Scotch its first pagoda roofed kiln. Water comes from the Bailliemullich Burn, the spirit drawn off three wash and three spirit stills.

It was drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, for the rich, full bodied make Dailuaine is known for. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a soft honey behind the rich 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. A first fill sherry cask suits the robust spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight. It sits near Aberlour, in the heart of Speyside by the River Spey. Most Dailuaine goes quietly into blends, a robust filler kept in part as single malt.

At 40% it is smooth and honeyed. Baked fruit, fig and a savoury depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The texture is full and rich, the fruit lifted by a meaty malt. The close is long, fruit over a rich malt. This is the rich, full bodied Speyside malt of Dailuaine.