Dallas Dhu 30 Years Old 1975 Cask #2481 (Duncan Taylor)

A 30 year old Dallas Dhu, this distilled in 1975 from the Huntly bottler Duncan Taylor, from cask 2481, bottled at 51%, one of 188 bottles. Dallas Dhu was built in 1898 by Alexander Edward, and made malt for the Roderick Dhu blend. The Glasgow blenders Wright and Greig bought it before it opened, for their Roderick Dhu blend, and gave it the name Dallas Dhu.

Distilled in a single pair of pot stills with worm tubs on Altyre Burn water, giving an oily spirit with a wisp of smoke. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and honey behind the fruity malt. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending maple and old oak as beeswax and a warm spice linger. Most Dallas Dhu went quietly into the Roderick Dhu blend, a little surviving as single malt. A revival is now planned, with talk of restarting production at the old distillery. The worm tubs gave a meaty weight to the new spirit, softening to fruit over the years. No more was made after 1983, though the distillery still stands as a museum.

Undiluted at 51%, it is layered. Orchard fruit, honey and a faint smoke, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked apple and a soft toffee lift it. The finish runs oily, fruity and warm. This is an oily, honeyed Speyside single malt.