Fragrant Drops Dailuaine 12yo Cask #302708 & Blind Summit Dailuaine (W) 11yo Apera Cask

Fragrant Drops Dailuaine 12yo Cask #302708

Region: Speyside

ABV: 57.2%

Price: £64.95

Distilled in February 2013 and bottled in November 2025 after 12 years of maturation, this Fragrant Drops Dailuaine was matured in a first fill bourbon hogshead. Outturn of 304 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with freshly whipped buttercream frosting, custard powder, green apple slices, custard cream biscuits and a hint of lime zest. Fairly classical bourbon cask Speyside, but it's characterful and well integrated. Going back, we're finding the apples are more prominent, juicier, and sweeter in character, along with a hint of strawberry juice and artificial pear aromas. The alcohol is well balanced, present but not overpowering.

Palate

The palate opens with lots of sweet red apple flesh, a little lemonade, some Summer strawberries and a scraped out vanilla pod. The whisky is really juicy and fresh, whilst also being sweet and rich at the same time. There's a bit of coconut, fudge and milk chocolate coming out on subsequent sips. The mouthfeel is good, it's got a sugar syrup like texture, and there's a bit of warm wood spice coming through on the good length finish. Going back, we're finding some rhubarb and custard sweeties, flat cola and a bit of sea salt right on the finish. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose brings more breadiness, those custard cream biscuits are now moving into digestive biscuit territory, and overall the dram feels less sweet, and a little drier. We're still getting the apples and pears, but we're having to dig deeper into the dram to find them. We prefer it without the water. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate loses a bit of texture, but still bursts open with those sweet fruits, combined with a drier, richer, oakier flavour - it's now got more caramelised wood sugars and overcooked biscuits coming through. Like the reduced nose, we prefer this without the water.

Conclusion

Sweet, juicy, fresh and lively, a wonderful example of a 12yo bourbon cask Speysider. As the dram opens up, we're finding an increasing complexity, it's got quite a few dimensions that appear with time and air. We're between a 7.5 and an 8, but the evolving complexity pushes us to the 8/10.

Score: 8/10

Value

Great whisky at a good price point.

Blind Summit Dailuaine (W) 11yo Apera Cask

Region: Speyside

ABV: 49.6%

Price: £54.95 (50cl)

Distilled in March 2015 and bottled in 2026, this Blind Summit Dailuaine spent around 10 years in a refill bourbon hogshead before being finished for just under a year in an Australian Apera cask, broadly equivalent to a sherry cask. The “W” denotes a waxy style of Dailuaine spirit. Bottled at 50cl with an outturn of 200 bottles. 

Nose

The nose has quite a thick, viscous sensation, with freshly peeled orange segments, candied almonds, dust from a carpenters workshop, and a handful of macerated cherry aromas coming through. We're also finding brandy snaps, raspberry jam and a little bit of anise in the background. There's something akin to slightly-overdone toast here too, along with pear skin and biscuit crumbs.

Palate

The palate opens with maraschino cherries in syrup, milk chocolate coins, some runny caramel and zesty, fresh limeade on the finish. It's got a mild pepperiness that lingers, but is nicely integrated with the whisky. We're also finding orange marmalade, apple slices, and maybe a little stewed rhubarb as the palate develops. The wine has definitely added something the dram, although we're finding the palate to be a little thinner than we'd like, especially for the waxier version of the Dailuaine spirit. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose is richer, nuttier, there's a host of almonds, brazil and hazelnuts coming through now, all mixed with slightly bitter orange juice and toasted brioche. It's lost some of the freshness, and for us we prefer the unreduced nose.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate feels almost thicker in the mouth, unusual when adding water - it's like the sugars are coating our mouths more. The flavours are mostly the same, lots of cherry, lots of orange, apple and zesty limeade. The finish is a bit richer with toffee and caramel, and a little pepper spice that lingers on.

Conclusion

Perhaps our first experience with Apera-finished whisky, and it's a solid dram. The wine is definitely present, but has integrated well over the year finishing period. The Dailuaine spirit is still there, lots of juicy orchard fruits, and it combines well with the richer citrus, red fruits and nuttiness from the Apera.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

Good price given the distillery and the unique cask type.

• 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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