Dailuaine 9 Years Old 2000 Cask #DMG 6213 (Douglas McGibbon)

This Dailuaine was bottled by the bottler Douglas McGibbon, a 9 year old, distilled in 2000, from cask DMG 6213, bottled at 46%. Dailuaine, founded in 1852, gave Scotch its first pagoda roofed kiln. Most of its make goes to blending, with a Flora and Fauna sixteen year old the regular single malt.

It was run through the distillery's big copper stills, giving the heavy, meaty spirit at its heart. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the oak letting the heavy, malty character lead. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted sugars (light caramel) over the heavy spirit. The rich, full bodied spirit takes cask flavour well, especially sherry wood. Single malt Dailuaine is rare as an official bottling, so most come from independents. Maturation in the cool north east keeps the rich spirit balanced over the years. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron.

At 46% it is clean and soft. Dried fruit, malt and a rich, savoury depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The texture is full and rich, the fruit lifted by a meaty malt. The finish is long, rich and savoury. This is Dailuaine's heavy, meaty Speyside style.