Dailuaine Batch 4 (TBWC)

This Dailuaine was bottled by the bottler That Boutique-y Whisky Company, a 20 year old, bottled at 50.4%, one of 442 bottles. Dailuaine is the rich, malty Speyside single malt that helped build the Johnnie Walker blends. In 1889 it became the first distillery to use the pagoda roof, the Doig Ventilator designed by Charles Doig.

Run through the distillery's big copper stills, for a rich, meaty make that suits sherry wood. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding vanilla and a soft honey. At oxidative maturity aldehydes and esters lend dried fruit while ellagitannins add a drying, savoury grip. 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. 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 cask strength 50.4% it is full bodied. 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 is long, rich and savoury. This is a rich, dried fruit laden Speyside single malt.