Dailuaine 13 Year (2007), Hidden Spirits Cask DU721

Review by: Whiskery Turnip

Distillery: Dailuaine.

Bottler: Hidden Spirits.

Region: Scotland/Speyside Single Malt.

ABV: 52.1%. Cask Strength.

Age: 13 Years. Distilled in 2007. Bottled in 2021.

Cask type: Jamaican Rum Cask Finish.

Nose: Green apples and buttercream frosting; hints of candied ginger and almond with citrusy lemon marmalade; a touch of coconut, bruised pineapple, and green wood at times.

Palate: Medium-bodied, very oily, orchard fruit and citrus opened with fresh lumber, bruised pineapple, and red earth; peppery spirit popped on the mid-palate and tingled through to the end, more wood at the backend.

Finish: Medium-length with peppery spirit, bruised tropical fruits, and earth.

Mental Image: Baking While Building the Patisserie.

Conclusion: Green apples dominated the sweet and slightly creamy aroma, with citrus and bruised tropical fruits hiding behind candied ginger.  The apples carried over to the oily and medium-bodied palate, which featured green grape skins, lumber, and some peppery spirit.  The finish was much the same, with pepper and bruised tropical fruits over mellow earth.

Balanced and well-structured, I found the whisky a bit too youthful and sweet for my taste. I am also not a big fan of green apple notes and those were just everywhere on this whisky— though I would not have complained had they pushed out more of the oak and peppery spirit.  The whole thing felt a bit raw and unrefined, not nearly as juicy or rich as I expected.

Overall, I might accept a pour of this, but I would not seek it out. Otherwise, I thought it made for a great highball.

Final Score: 77.

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

Published by Whiskery Turnip

Whisky reviews from Hawaiʻi and beyond. My wife is a peat monster; her influence can be seen in my preferences for earthy, dirty, and sometimes very weird malts. If given a choice, I will almost always choose whisky from a refill cask, especially regarding sherry. I am a big fan of the world whisky scene, especially single malts. You will not find my reviewing much more than whisky, but I am also a big fan of sake.

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