Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Distillery: Dailuaine.
Bottler: Cadenhead’s.
Region: Scotland/Speyside Single Malt.
ABV: 51.7%. Cask Strength.
Age: 14 Years. Distilled in 2009. Bottled in 2023.
Cask type: Fino Sherry Hogshead Finish.
Nose: Citrusy syrups and fruit salad, Haribo gummy bears with ruby chocolate; chalky candies and sticky fig cakes; birthday cake frosting and Froot Loops with a mild prickly spirit.
Palate: Medium-bodied and syrupy, fruity and a touch astringent with big wood notes that a beaver with a sweet tooth would surely appreciate; Fruit Loops and Haribo gummies with mellow fruit punch and citrus; maltier toward the end with proper pastries, figs, and hints of musty tobacco with ample wood.
Finish: Medium to long, drying with wood, fruit, and chalky candies.
Mental Image: Late Night Cereal Bar.
Conclusion: Loaded with brand names and vaguely fruity candy flavors, there was something a bit nostalgic about the profile of this teenage Dailauine. The fino sherry finish drove a lot of the fruitier flavors and the amount of wood influence on the palate. It was never uncomfortable, but it was a bit overdone for my taste. I consider Dailuaine’s spirit robust enough to handle some aggressive casking, but it felt a bit lost here.
A few drops of water toned down the oak and the bit of spirit on the nose so that more deliciously fruity breakfast cereals and pastries could come through. I found that the malt really shined in a cocktail, especially a simple highball with a touch of ginger or lemon.
Final Score: 76.
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.
Malt Runners 