Thompson Bros: Dailuaine – 2015 (Scottish Speyside Single Malt Whisky: 9 Year: 57.1 % ABV)
Visual: Clear light gold. Medium speed and thickness streaks from the spirit.
Nose: Apples. Green grapes. Lightly waxy. Light menthol. Pear drops. Red apple. Water adds more red apple and suet.
Body: Thick alcohol. Apples. Fruit pies. Caramel. Toffee apple. Slight orange. Waxy. Water makes more waxy. Raisins. Suet. Mince pie. Madeira. Orange skin.
Finish: Apple and pear drops. Drying. Light white pepper. Slight raisins. Water adds plums. Suet. Orange skin. Christmas pudding. Treacle sponge.
Conclusion: This is two freaking drams in one. It is just so strange. Neat this is waxy, menthol, green fruits like grapes, apples and pear drops. I love it, so fresh with that green fruit style I associate with younger whisky but with a smooth body given some grip by the slight waxiness. There is some alcohol burn from the abv, than less you would expect.
Then, after appreciating that very good experience, you decide to add some water and see if that benefits it and … it is a completely different whisky. Now, while it is still waxy, it is filled with dark fruit, very much emphasising Christmas pudding and mince pies. There is a citrus hint, but now an orange skin note that seems to match those dark desserts well, rather than the brighter citrus of before.
I have no idea how they have two so different experiences here in one dram.
Do you want a waxy, gripping, delicious green fruit thing? Do you want a waxy, delicious dark fruit thing? Yes? This is both. Dailuaine has again managed to snatch the spot as he absolute stand out whisky of the tasting. This is amazing.
Complex and rewarding in either style, if you get the chance to grab one of the few bottles of this bouncing around then this is two amazing drams in one bottle and well worth it.
Background: This is specifically called a “Waxy Dailuaine” – a Dailuaine made during the time, or so it goes, when Clynelish was down for maintenance and so production of a more “waxy” spirit was moved over to the Dailuaine distillery. Oddly at the last Independent Spirit tasting I went to the Thompson Bro’s Dailuaince bottling was the stand out of the tasting so had high hopes for this, had at the dedicated Thompson Bro’s tasting at Independent Spirit. This is one of only 258 bottles. As well as the usual disclaimer about being at a tasting so not able to do my best notes, also I had serious hayfever before this. However I was dosed up on my antihistamines and drops so seemed to be able to smell and taste reasonably so decided to go ahead with doing notes here.
