Dallas Dhu 19 Years Old 1978 (MoM)

A Dallas Dhu drawn by the retailer Master of Malt, distilled in 1978, bottled at 62%. Dallas Dhu was a Speyside distillery near Forres, closed in 1983 and now preserved as a museum. With the distillery long silent, every bottle draws on a finite, dwindling stock.

The spirit was made in copper pot stills before the distillery closed, for the malty, fruity make Dallas Dhu was known for. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the fruity character to the fore. In the oxidative middle years oxidation draws out a waxy fruit, vanillin and lactones fully expressed. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the fruity, oily core over the decades. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation in the dunnage warehouses by Forres. Rather than demolish it, Historic Scotland preserved it whole, opening it to the public in 1988. The pot stills gave a fruity, oily spirit that ages slowly and with grace. Closed in 1983, it was preserved whole rather than demolished, its profile fixed for good.

At its natural 62% it is concentrated. A fruity, honeyed sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is fruity and malty, the oily spirit shining through. The close is long, fruit over a malty oil. This is the fruity ghost of Dallas Dhu.