Dailuaine The Managers’ Choice 12 Years Old 1997

This official Dailuaine, a 12 year old, from 1997, cask 8476, at 58.6%, 564 bottles in all. Dailuaine is a robust Speyside distillery at Carron, making a full bodied malt mostly for blends. The distillery was founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie on the banks of the Spey at Carron.

It was worked through the big stills for a meaty, malty spirit, for the rich, full bodied make Dailuaine is known for. An Oloroso hogshead lent fig, raisin and a savoury, nutty depth, the heavy spirit soaking it up. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper orchard fruit over the meaty malt. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the rich, malty core over the years. Most Dailuaine goes quietly into blends, a robust filler kept in part as single malt. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the meaty malt.

At its natural 58.6% it is concentrated. Apple, dried fruit and a meaty edge, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dried fruit and a malty depth give it weight. It finishes robust, malty and warm. This is a rich, dried fruit laden Speyside single malt.