Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 54.3%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Sherry
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Diageo
Average Price: € 430.00
Official website:
One of the great novelties of this Special Releases, from one of the many distilleries in the Diageo portfolio that exists solely to supply their blends, makes a return to the series after its only other appearance in 2015 with the 34-year-old.
An event also for the aging, which although less important than its previous guise, sees the use of the (declared) few ex-sherry casks of this age (and beyond) present in the warehouses where Dailuaine matures.
Tasting Notes
It is hard to find a nose more sherried than this, with an intensity and elegance straight out of a manual. Many red fruits (blackberry, cherry, blackcurrant), dried fruits (fig, plum, date, tamarind), and citrus (blood orange) intertwine with almonds, pecans, and leather, accompanied by a delectable pastry reminiscent of blackberry tart. In the background, cocoa, coffee, tobacco, and humidor wood are present, with cinnamon and nutmeg bridging the aromas. An endless depth, warm and decadent. On the lenght, aged balsamic vinegar and a subtle moldy note linger.
In the mouth, it reaffirms its nature, shifting towards more acidic tones that highlight citrus and red fruits, with a pronounced dryness. Dense and oily, the wood stands out with abundant black pepper alongside the pronounced spices of the nose, as well as hints of coffee and cocoa marked by a touch of muscovado sugar. A strong tannic component in length, with some saline hints.
Finale long and dry, very dry, of bitter orange marmalade, nuts, coffee, cocoa, spices, and wood.
Review: The impact of the casks is remarkable, perhaps too much (but it’s also a matter of taste), to the point of making it rather monotonous to drink, losing the engaging three-dimensionality of the aroma. Definitely irresistible for those who love sherry cask aging, for me it remains impressive but somewhat unbalanced.
Vote: 87/100