In 2007, they introduced a new bottle design for the Daily Dram series. Good old Guy Boyen once told me Malt Maniac’s Serge was responsible for the label template, and who am I to question my whisky godfather. Serge reviews most of their bottlings so it could be right.

Daily Dram has a tradition of turning the distillery name into an anagram. Adieu Lina  obviously stands for Dailuane.

Dailuaine ‘Adieu Lina’ 1973 35y (47,6%, Daily Dram 2008, 150 btl.)

You could guess from the colour that this is from a sherry cask, and the smell immediately confirms this. Nose: sherry notes with christmas cake, oranges, raisins, figs and spices (lots of cinnamon, some cloves). Some flowery notes and wood polish as well. Interesting notes of rhubarb. Very good balance. With water: lovely notes of raspberry jam. Taste: much sweeter than on the nose: candied fruit, a bit of honey, orange (marmalade) again. Some vanilla. Aftertaste on pear, cloves and wood with a hint of caramel. The pear remains for a long time.

There aren’t many Dailuaines around, and most of them are not really special. This one has a lot to offer. Very nice, and good pricing as well given the age (€ 140).

Score: 87/100.

The original whisky was a ”triple malt”, a blend of just three single malts: Clynelish, Dailuaine and Teaninich, all 12 years old. After 18 additional months in the different casks, they were bottled at cask strength (52-55%). It’s interesting to see that only new oak was used, which is rather unusual for scotch whisky. The one I’m reviewing here was matured in an American oak cask, toasted to level 5 on a scale of 10.

Canto Cask 36 (54,3%, Compass Box for Bresser & Timmer, 2007, 257 btl.)

The nose starts on vanilla, apples and a bit of wax and varnish. Some spicy notes as well (nutmeg and cloves). Smooth oakiness. Mouth: really powerful, gets quite hot and toasty but stays elegant and sweet at the same time. Seems older than it actually is. The same spices return, oak and toffee as well. Warm finish with some bitter notes (cloves, walnuts, liquorice). The slightest hint of smoke. Score: 85/100.

I like this a lot, it’s complex yet accessible and I support the idea of experimenting, especially when we’re invited to evaluate the different results. I have a Canto Cask 15 (bought in Spain) as well, matured in French oak with a higher toasting level. I’m hoping to open it soon and do a head-to-head.

Dailuaine 35 yo 1976 (50,5%, The Whisky Agency ‘Romantique’ 2011, ex-bourbon hogshead, 148 btl.)

Nose: beautiful, with lots of warm oak and soft turpentine. Wax polish and beehive notes. Some citrus (oranges, pink grapefruit) and ripe banana. Hints of dried flowers. A hint of vanilla, cinnamon and mint as well. Quite complex and very elegant. Mouth: hmm, focuses directly on Seville oranges although there are other fruits and a little vanilla as well. Pretty oaky with an obvious bitterish side. Evolves to a soft peppery / herbal palate. Hints of fruit tea. Finish: long with oranges, ginger, a fair amount of drying oak and a nice nuttiness.

Indeed, high quality again. There’s some firm oak in this Dailuaine but it’s still within limits. Around € 180.

Score: 87/100