Fable Dailuaine 12yo & Adelphi Dailuaine 14yo (Cask #304331)

Dailuaine 12 Year Old 2008 (Moon Bottling 1)

Region: Speyside

ABV: 56.2%

Price: £78

This is a 12yo refill bourbon barrel Dailuaine bottled by Fable Whisky. This is the first release of chapter 3, bottled for the United Kingdom and France on 17/05/2021. There have been several other chapter 3 releases bottled for different markets, all single casks, and all from Dailuaine.

Nose

On the nose there’s some malt, chocolate, a touch of dust and a little zest as well. There’s some cotton candy grapes, pineapple and a little old leather right in the background. There’s also some alcohol on the nose that’s muting some of the other aromas a little too strongly.

Palate

More pineapple at the forefront, followed by creamy chocolate as the finish comes along. There’s orange peel and juice, and a bit of pepper and chili heat. The finish is tingly and rich compared to the initial fruitiness that you get when first sipping.

Nose (with water)

Water brings out a certain mustiness, not the usual dunnage but something a bit sweeter, like Roses strawberry creams. There’s now some freshly baked bread rolls, banana peel and orange essence.

Palate (with water)

Water brings a lot more sugary sweetness to the forefront, like an artificial sweetener, some of the tropical fruits are gone and the alcohol is quite punchy and prominent.

Conclusion

This is one we prefer without water as the lovely fruity notes are lost amongst a sea of fake sugars. Overall it’s a perfectly pleasant whisky, maybe a little simple and a little hot on the nose/palate, but we wouldn’t turn down a dram.

Score: 7/10

Adelphi Dailuaine 14 Year Old (Cask #304331)

Region: Speyside

ABV: 54.1%

Price: £85

Next up is a 14yo single cask bottled by Adelphi, which was distilled in 2007 and matured in a refill oloroso sherry butt. 573 bottles were released at cask strength.

Nose

The nose opens with prunes, raisin, and vanilla marshmallows, then going back to it after a little time we’re also getting some ginger and orange cake, and a some smoked beef ribs.

Palate

Initially on the palate there’s a perfumery floral note reminiscent of lavender, some toffee, and chilli chocolate, going back to it there’s also some tannins, charcoal, and beef bourguignon. This is good, but a touch hot for us.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has notes of toffee and caramel. There’s also some granola/cereal, a musty note, some ginger and, milk chocolate.

Palate (with water)

The water has reduced the heat on the palate, but some of the flavour is lost with the heat. There’s now more sweet vanilla and white sugar syrup. We’re also getting a touch of cranberry and raisins. medium to long finish with a little alcohol heat and plenty of sweetness.

Conclusion

A complex dram and without water we can keep coming back to this to experience new things. It’s a shame water mutes some of this complexity, as this definitely benefits from the reduction in alcohol bite water brings. As they say you can’t have everything...

Score: 7.5/10

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

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