Whisky Review/Tasting: Dailuaine 15 years 1997 Signatory Vintage

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: The Dailuaine single malt whisky is distilled in Scotland and bottled by the independent bottler Signatory Vintage, which is located at the site of the Edradour Distillery.
Type: Single malt whisky.
Distillation and Maturation Process: Matured for 15 years in hogsheads, which are larger than standard American barrels, holding 250 liters each. This batch combined the contents of two casks, numbers 6015 and 6016.
Age Statement: 15 years, distilled on May 1, 1997, and bottled on October 4, 2012.
Color and Clarity: Natural color, unchill-filtered to preserve its natural characteristics.
Bottle Design: Packaged in a tube with a silvery tint, part of the unchill-filtered collection.

Balance of Flavors: Presents a mature, full-bodied profile with a balance between sweetness, fruitiness, and spiciness.
Unique Characteristics: Compared to the lighter Cardhu 12-year-old, this whisky is more mature and full-bodied, with a notable absence of bitterness due to the use of American oak hogsheads.
Flavor Notes: Sweetness reminiscent of very ripe, exotic fruits like mango and papaya, followed by a spiciness with hints of pepper. The oak influence is significant, covering the mouth without introducing bitterness.
Comparison: Suggested to have similarities with Cardhu's taste, especially in its fruitiness and sweetness, but with a more pronounced maturity and full-bodied character.

Production Insights: The independent bottler Signatory Vintage, which also owns Edradour Distillery, has a unique position in being able to select and mature its casks on-site.
Batch Specificity: This particular batch, with only 795 bottles produced, emphasizes the uniqueness and potential variability between different batches due to the small-scale production.

Distillery Background: Dailuaine's ability to produce a spirit similar to Cardhu's has implications for its use in blends, notably in the Johnny Walker brand, reflecting the distillery's adaptability and significance in Scotch whisky blending traditions.

Horst Luening, the master taster, appreciates the mature, full-bodied character and the absence of bitterness, highlighting the quality of the whisky's maturation process and the choice of casks.

Dailuaine 15-year-old single malt whisky, bottled by Signatory Vintage, is a mature, full-bodied whisky with natural color and unchill-filtered.
Matured in American oak hogsheads, it offers a sweet and fruity profile with a notable spiciness and absence of bitterness.
The whisky is compared to Cardhu, suggesting a similarity in sweetness and fruitiness but with a more pronounced maturity.
The small batch production, with only 795 bottles, underscores the uniqueness of each batch.
Horst Luening praises the whisky for its mature character and balanced flavor profile.

For the Connoisseur: The complexity and unique batch-specific characteristics of this whisky make it an appealing choice for experienced whisky enthusiasts looking for something distinctive.
For the Adventurous Drinker: Those interested in exploring the nuances of single malt Scotch whisky beyond the mainstream offerings will find this Dailuaine 15-year-old a rewarding experience.
For the Collector: Given the limited production and the potential for batch variability, collectors might be particularly interested in acquiring bottles from different batches for comparison.