Whisky: Dailuaine 10 Year (2010), Hunter Laing's The Sovereign for K&L

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 59.4%

Cask: Sherry Butt

Age: 10 Years (Distilled 2010, Bottled 2021)

Nose: Cream, nougat, butterscotch, red velvet cake, cream cheese, subtle cinnamon, cocoa, hints of dried apricot and banana.

Palate: Medium-bodied, caramel creams, butterscotch, dried fruits, cream, hints of cocoa, cinnamon, and orange zest, subtle tobacco and mint at the end.

Finish: Medium to long with caramel and subtle herbs.

Score: 6

Mental Image: Holiday Fruit Gift Basket

Narrative & Notes: A butterscotch bomb on the nose, the aroma brought to mind Wether’s Original flavored milkshakes and slices of decadent red velvet cake. Creamy nougat and butterscotch dominated with hints of cream cheese, cocoa, and cinnamon. Occasionally dried apricot and bananas waved hello with a whiff of creamy pudding. The palate was medium-bodied with caramel, cream, butterscotch, and dried fruits. Imagine a wooden board covered with dried banana, apricot, pineapple, and butterscotch candies. For dessert, caramel flan with a dusting of cocoa, cinnamon, and orange zest. Toward the end, more subtle notes of tobacco and mint appeared and lingered with a polished oak. Medium to long on the finish with caramel and subtle tobacco.

I will never claim my reviews are objective; I think all reviews are inherently subjective— this is a matter of taste, after all. I did not particularly care for this flavor combination and often found the dram too sweet. While I was not too fond of the flavor profile, I did enjoy the creamy mouthfeel, the integration of the flavors, and the length of the finish. There was a lot this dram did right, even if I did not particularly care for it. Fans of butterscotch and butter beer will no doubt find more to love.

Overall, not a bad whisky— it had enough going right that I thought it was an above-average dram, but the flavors were not to my taste and a tad too saccharine.

Image Credit: Whisky Base