This is the second new Signatory bottling for The Bonding Dram: Dailuaine 1997. The yield is shared with Maison Baelen, Toby Vins and restaurant De Cluysenaer.
Dailuaine 17 yo 1997 (52,1%, Signatory Vintage for The Bonding Dram 2015, hogshead #7188, 215 btl.)
Nose: fairly naked and malty, with sweet apples, meadow flowers and linseed oil. Subtle spices. A bit of heather honey. Slightly overripe oranges. Also hints of asparagus. Hmmmokay then.
Mouth: fruitier and quite oily. Stewed apples and pears, oranges again, with lemon candy. Some biscuity notes (vanilla) with candy sugar before moving onto strong spices (quite some pepper and ginger, a little nutmeg) and light nutty notes. A hint of buttery mocha towards the end.
Finish: long, creamy with a salty touch. Liquorice and soft herbs.
A bit of a middle-of-the-road nose, but overall an engaging whisky with a good body and lots of different characteristics (which means nobody will be disappointed). Around € 85, available from The Bonding Dram and the others..
Score: 85/100