2007 Dailuaine 12 Year Old “Old Particular” Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt at K&L California – Scotch Whisky News
A Staff and Customer Favorite Single Malt of Astounding Refinement
2007 Dailuaine 12 Year Old “Old Particular” Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky ($64.99)
“Absolutely unique, perfectly balanced and undeniably delicious by any measure.”
— David Othenin-Girard
Dailuaine is one of the great, underrated gems in the Diageo portfolio. Always an exquisitely crafted spirit, we were amazed when we found a first fill sherry cask—a rare surprise we latched onto immediately. Such a treatment carries with it the expectation of bold, sweet flavors, but this being Dailuaine, refinement is the name of the game. Beautifully balanced but also with a tantalizing undercurrent of exotic spice, ripe fruit, and woodsy notes, it deftly melds its more savory elements with the inherent sweetness of the malt. We could go on and on about flavors this 12-year-old reveals, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out it only costs $64.99. This is an outstanding value for a spirit of pedigree and caliber and very well could be the smartest Scotch buy of 2019. We’ve already sold through a significant portion of our allotment and expect the remainder to go quickly. If you love an evolved and complex single malt that’s not a bruiser, then you need to add this Dailuaine to your collection.
Another distillery in owner Diageo’s portfolio that hums along under the radar quietly churning out whisky that provides the heart and soul of some of the world’s most important blends. Rarely seen as a single malt, we’ve developed a crush on Dailuaine over the last few years here at K&L. Fortunately for us and our customers, our suppliers have acquired a number of sherry casks that have been made available at extraordinary prices. For less than $65 bucks, this 12-year-old delivers all of the meaty intensity that we’ve had in previous bottles with a more elegant wood profile. A deep amber in color, the balance of wood to spirit at the classic 12-year age statement is just perfect. There is a bit of burnt orange peel, sweet dried fruit, and a subtle nuttiness that intertwines with and highlights the rich and meaty spirit. It’s a shame that Diageo doesn’t choose to celebrate this unique malt with its own bottling, but as always, we are happy to pick up the slack.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 22, 2019
Dailuaine is another one of these great Diageo properties that’s been left out of the conversation for so long. We’ve had some fun Dailuaines in the past but never something in first fill sherry. This isn’t one of those ultra dark ones, but there’s no denying the exquisite influence this lovely sherry cask has had on the mild little single malt located just outside of Aberlour. The nose begins with a huge wild honey note, behind that hints of espresso bean and roasted nuts. The palate is very rich and oily, sweet dried fruits and spice. With water this becomes rather exotic – mango, ginger, harissa, clove, bay and savory hints of leather, antique wood and anise. Still big and oily on the palate with with this exotic bouquet expanding over the palate indefinitely. An undeniable sweetness, that doesn’t make me think PX, but maybe some type of old Palo Cortado or fine Moscatel. For everyone that’s disappointed it’s not some ultra dark bomb, I challenge you to open a bottle and tell me this isn’t THE BOMB. Absolutely unique, perfectly balanced and undeniably delicious by any measure.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 23, 2019
If oily doesn’t mean anything to you yet when it comes to Scotch, it will after you taste this. The malt itself is slick and supple with a slightly funky meaty quality a la Mortlach. Baked apples and red berry and quince compote represent the fruity side of the whisky which bounces off of the savory complexity from the sherry wonderfully. It’s as if you’ve stored loose leaf black tea in a Cuban cigar box. A slight hint at the umami of strong type baijiu comes up on the finish—insanely complex for the modest 12 year old/$65 combo. Not as dark as previous Dailuaine casks we’ve had, but frankly a better whisky than previous casks if you prefer nuance, balance, and complexity. While I haven’t decided yet on what I think the very best value is in our current single cask selection, this is certainly in the top 3.
Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 06, 2019
I’m pretty on board with most of the things the other reviewers have said about this whisky here. Unique and different from almost every other Scotch I’ve tasted in this year’s rounds of D.I.s, I wasn’t sure what to think of it at first. The nose is sour and savory with an underlying sweetness. Initially I got molasses, sour apple/cherry, overripe fig, and raisin bagels. The sour/sweet/spice combo had my mind reeling. Once I sipped it, there was a different story to be told and my brain immediately got back in line. Like the other reviewers have mentioned, the texture is absolutely beautiful. Notes of sweet sherry, umami, and grilled peach skins rode on a full-bodied and silky mouthfeel. If you’re looking to try something new and fun, this is the Scotch for you.
Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 29, 2019
Here’s my holiday gift to myself for 2019. Andrew and David picked a lot of great single barrels for our Scotch program this year, but this is one of the more unique casks, I feel. While Dailuaine isn’t bottled as a single malt very often, it can fall into a fairly typical Speyside character of fruit and sweetness. This 12 year Old Particular bottling, however, packs an umami punch. There are a lot of savory and spicy notes which combine with cocoa scents that nearly give the impression of Mexican mole sauce. In the background there are dark honey notes and a little orchard fruit, but the savory side is the star. On the palate this Scotch is even more spicy and fun with notes of leather and English breakfast tea. Adding water brings out a little more fruit character and brown sugar, but the spice stays strong. Check this one out.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 23, 2019
If I had just one word to describe this single cask it would be that it is fantastic. Other words like delicious and interesting could also apply. The nose is pretty with a mixture of malt and spice. In the mouth it is rich and concentrated with spice and nut notes. With a little water it is full-bodied and mouth-coating with a depth of sweet and spicy flavors. There is a nice dry finish.
