More regularly available Dailuaine is a good thing

When entering the arena of auctions, I always keep an eye out on Flora & Fauna bottlings by Diageo. A line of bottlings so dubbed by whisky writer Michael Jackson, it contained almost all distilleries owned by Diageo at one point, with the exceptions being the classic malts Lagavulin, Talisker, Glenkinchie, Cragganmore and Oban. Also Cardhu had its very own design bottle for the single malt range. But when you wanted to taste something made by Inchgower, Dufftown, Glen Spey or even Clynelish, Caol Ila and Rosebank, you had to seek out the “F&F”.

Dailuaine was hard to find when I at one point started collecting F&F-bottlings. Nowadays, it is actually quite readily available. Not many regular bottles come out, I think Blair Athol might well be the best known one of the remaining releases. Most whisky has upgraded to own core ranges. The Dailuaine is a weird one within the Flora & Fauna range, because it changed the label from more or less horizontal to a more vertical looking style. See pictured. It will keep collectors on their toes, won’t it? (EDIT: Today on WhiskyFun we see the same for Mannochmore.) Today we taste the regularly available release of Dailuaine.

Dailuaine 16 years old, bottled at 43 % abv

Makeup: A 2023 bottling in the famous but unofficially named Flora & Fauna livery. Has always been one of the very few sherry driven malts in this series, together with the legendary Mortlach, Balmenach and Pittyvaich. Most of them rare (but affordable) collector’s items now.

General impressions: Opens on a bready note, pumpernickel perhaps, then some hard fruits like Mirabelle. Some rum soaked raisins and a hint of copper. Very fragrant, as Flora & Fauna bottlings are known to be. Lovely, more fresh than I remember most Dailuaine to be. The taste is more challenging. Cherry liquor, very sticky, mouth filling, and mouthwatering because it is very good. Excellent balance. This shows age and playfulness. The finish is very refreshing.

Conclusion: If you want to surprise your friends with a left-field choice, pour them this instead of  regular Aberlour or Glenfarclas, and blow them away. Good, classic, sherried whisky. Happy to see it on the shelves.

Score: 85 points

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