Lunar New Year Dailuaine 2012 Oloroso Finish
Cask Type: Hogshead
Cask Number: #5052
Bottled: 2023
Age: 8
Region: Islay
No. of bottles: 335
ABV: 62.7%
Release: Winter Release 2023
Jonny McMillan
“When I’m looking at what casks to rerack into fresh wood I generally prefer to select muscular distillates that can match powerful oak, so Dailuaine is an obvious choice.”
Tasting Notes
Aromas of grassy, light green fruits fly out of the glass followed closely by tell-tale signs of thick, Sherry wood. Prunes, dates and spiced oak scale the olfactory senses. The palate is rich and full, holding one’s attention but balancing between distillate-driven orchard fruits and heavier Sherry notes. Spice roars across the finish building in intensity with a puff of wood smoke at the tip. Dailuaine’s heavy spirit is made for Sherry cask maturation and this meaty Oloroso butt has embraced the challenge beautifully.
Distillery
Dailuaine Distillery began production in 1852. In 1889, it became the first to have a pagoda roof fitted to its malting kiln. This revolutionary design vastly assisted the drying of barley and has become an iconic part of the distillery’s character.
Rob Whitehead says: “Whilst not a household name due to its rich Speyside character being vital to Scotland’s blenders, Dailuaine is quite a sizeable distillery, producing noteworthy and deliciously toothsome single malt. Dailuaine is an important (if unromantic) player in Speyside’s sustainability march as an on-site ‘spent grain’ facility processing organic byproducts from a host of nearby distilleries to lessen their environmental impact.”