Blind summit Dailuaine 8yo & Blind summit Glentauchers 17yo

Blind summit Dailuaine 8yo

Region: Speyside

ABV: 55.6%

Price: £54.95 (50cl)

Distilled on 5th May 2017 and matured in a refill bourbon hogshead for 8 years, this release yielded 142 bottles at 50cl each.

Nose

The nose opens with soft white peach, clementine, fresh cherry, a little fresh grass, cold butter, apple juice from concentrate and vanilla custard. Going back we’re getting heaps of desiccated coconut, sweet Chantilly cream and butterscotch. The alcohol is also very well integrated, barely any singe or spice coming through at all. 

Palate

The palate has whipped cream, coconut essence, vanilla pods, white chocolate, creme caramel, apple slices, and pear skin. There’s a warmth that develops as it sits on your tongue, not overly spicy but it’s like a nice warm cup of sweet, milky tea. The mouthfeel is great, lots of creamy viscosity, and as the dram opens up, we’re getting more of the fruity spirit, apricot, nectarine and candied lemon peel. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has a bit more cask coming through, more vanilla, more coconut, more butter, but then we’re still getting the fruity notes appearing later on. There’s now a floral, peach leaf aroma coming out. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate maintains its creamy mouthfeel, and has a mixture of citrus and cream coming to the forefront. More citrus than before, we preferred this without water - it felt more in balance. 

Conclusion

The whisky manages to mix creaminess and fruitiness to create something incredibly well balanced. It also melds the spirit character with the cask influence so you’re getting both in equal measures. It’s exceptionally good for its age and punches well above its weight. It’s one of those needle in a haystack refill bourbon casks.

Score: 8.5/10

Value

A little more than we’d like to pay for an 8-year-old, but it’s a cracking dram nonetheless.

Blind summit Glentauchers 17yo

Region: Highlands

ABV: 51.2%

Price: £90.00 (50cl)

Distilled on 23rd March 2008, this release was finished in two 30-litre bloodtubs that previously held Foursquare rum before being bottled. A total of 105 50cl bottles were released.

Nose

The nose opens with sweet canned pineapple rings in syrup, fudge, lemon peel, a little mango, oxidised apple flesh, stewed pears, stale sponge cake and a little freshly zested lime. The alcohol is nicely integrated, and the rum finish definitely makes itself known but not in an overpowering way. Time and air brings out some toasted oak, candied ginger and gooseberry. 

Palate

The palate opens with a vanilla syrup like mouthfeel, and we’re getting peach rings, lemon slices, warm ginger spice and grapefruit, moving into some buttery biscuits and malt on the latter palate. It’s warmer than the nose led us to believe, however it comes through as more wood spice and a sprinkling of white pepper. Going back, we’re getting something akin to an unsweetened caramac bar, following into light honey and pear. It’s a mixture of fruity, tangy, and floral without being overly sweet, with a good kick of oak behind. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has more of a honeysuckle, lemon balm, white peach and light apricot aroma, less of the tropical fruits detected previously. It’s quite pleasant, less overt wood influence and more florality coming through. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate has more pineapple, lemon and lime, with hints of mango, more of that rum cask influence coming through. The spice has mellowed, but the mouthfeel is a tad thinner. Super drinkable with a drop of water, very pleasant. 

Conclusion

The rum cask has added some welcome tropical fruit and spice notes to an already fruity spirit, and it works quite well together. The nose has much more of the rum influence than the palate, and the palate is drier than we would have expected, however it’s all integrated together nicely. Well aged, well matured Speyside whisky. 

Score: 7.5/10

Value

A good price for the age and distillery, especially from a small indie bottler.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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