Dailuaine 40YO revealed at Malt Live 2024 Dubai

Wilson & Morgan, since its foundation in 1992, has always believed in one very simple rule: that no whisky under its label would be bottled until it met the taste of brilliant owner and chairman Fabio Rossi.

It’s as simple as that, with no preconceptions about age statements, colour (we never added colouring, long before not adding them became a common trend) or anything else. We have always believed that aroma, taste and personality are what matters, and not a ‘number’.

In our portfolio, we have had some relatively young malts that, while affordable, were among our all-time favourites. But, of course, during more than 30 years of being in the business, we have also released some very special old whiskies, including a record-breaking North British bottled at the respectable age of 50 years.

The concept is clear: when we occasionally release a very old whisky, it’s not because we want to cynically aim at the premium market; it’s not because we want to boast impressive age statements pasted on overly oaky malts that are past their peak. It’s because that very specific cask deserved to reach such a venerable age – because it really gave its best only after three or four decades of slow and patient maturation. Old whiskies, with complexity but also with grace. Multifaceted, but still vibrant and fresh in spite of the years.

One of these extraordinary single malts is our Dailuaine 40YO Fully matured in Sherry Wood W&M484, limited to only 297 engraved decanters with a sterling silver neck collar, housed in a prestigious mahogany presentation box and revealed as a world premiere in the recent Malt Live 2024 event, which was held at the Meydan Hotel in Dubai.

The first half of this cask was bottled in 2018 as a 35YO in our Special Releases (catalogue reference W&M273). After five more years, we feel that the remaining half has reached a new peak and that it deserves a royal treatment.

It was matured for four decades in an oloroso butt, albeit in a refill one. This explains how it slowly grew and developed its complexity for such a long time. The result is markedly sherried, dry and nutty, but without oaky excesses.

On the nose, it’s still lively, very fresh and ripe with youthful fruitiness: bananas, peaches and candied oranges.

On the palate, there is a hint of medicinal herbs and spices, but tannins are well controlled and the oaky bitterness remains subtle. It’s obviously old, with the structure and complexity of its 40 years, but it’s still sunny, extremely fruity and playful. Only towards the end does the spicy and dry influence of the oloroso start to dominate, with a very peppery and astringent finale.

The suggested initial retail price is €2,500 (US$2,700), but this kind of rare bottling only acquires value in years. Whiskies like this Dailuaine 40YO are the stuff of dreams for whisky lovers and collectors, and will reach legendary status in time. We are sure that you will be delighted by it, if you choose it to celebrate a special occasion in your life – an anniversary or a celebration as unique as this rare and unrepeatable bottling.

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