1980 Dailuaine 34 Year Old (Special Release 2015) Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

It's not often you get to taste Dailuaine, let alone an uncut 34 year old. In fact, this is only the fourth official bottling and the first of its kind in six years. Matured in refill American oak casks and bottled at natural strength, this also represents the oldest bottling ever to come from the original distillers. Just under 3,000 available worldwide. A rare treat indeed.

Tasting note: Deep amber / gold. Weighty aromas; build to moist fruit cake, tea biscuits with aeration adding a fruity aspect - raisin? Fig? plus hints of hazelnut, vanilla and cocoa. Equally big on mouthfeel, as the nose suggests. Rich barley / spice / dried fruit delivery. Finishes tongue tingling, beeswaxy, oily as late fruitiness combines with hints of pepper and dark chocolate, rebounding with surprising staying power. The brawniest of the collection. Must try for fans of this distillery. 50.9% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... That rarely-spotted beast Dailuaine gets the Special Release treatment. This example has come from refill American oak and has immediate marzipan notes on top of the distillery’s fascinating mix of meaty density and sweetness. In time there are fat fruits, Victoria plum, bitter citrus, faded green leafiness, and chocolate notes. The palate is ripe, rich, and profound, with a hint of tropical fruits cut with cacao. Long, elegant, and complex, this is the best of this year’s bunch for me. 93 points
- www.maltadvocate.com (Winter 2015) Reviewed by: Dave Broom