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Little Brown Dog Dailuaine 16 Year Old Review

Discover our review of Little Brown Dog's Dailuaine 16 Year Old, a 2009 single malt matured in ex-Islay refill hogsheads. Just 253 bottles released.

OVERALL RATING

9
$86
  • Mark Bostock, a whisky enthusiast specializing in independent bottlings.
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Tasting Notes

About:

A single cask expression from Speyside’s Dailuaine distillery, bottled by independent bottler Little Brown Dog. Distilled in 2009, this Dailuaine was bottled in 2025 following an unusual full 16-year long maturation in an ex-Islay refill hogshead. Only 253 bottles were produced, at 55.9% ABV.
Appearance:
Barley straw
Nose:
On the nose, aromas begin with a slightly sweet floral note including a hint of vanilla, giving way to earthy minerality and sweet peat.
Palate:
Lemon zest and citrus open on the palate, giving way to nutty notes. Salty brine notes follow, combining with underlying notes of Dailuaine’s characteristic meaty spirit to become reminiscent of a meaty oyster.
Finish:
An initially spicy finish, like chilli hot sauce on an oyster. Pepper and sea salt follow, before lingering cigar and bonfire smoke.
Comments:
As Dailuaine’s only official bottling is a Flora & Fauna 16-Year-Old expression and the majority of the distillery’s output is destined for Diageo’s blends, independent cask strength bottlings such as this Little Brown Dog release offer an opportunity to really showcase the Dailuaine distillery style. Most often Dailuaine uses sherry cask maturation, although a surprisingly large number of independent releases replicate the official bottling’s 16-Year age statement.

This Little Brown Dog Dailuaine represents what I really like about independently released single cask bottlings; the opportunity to sample an unusual and quirky bottling which differs from the distillery’s known style. Even the majority of independent Dailuaine releases are sherry cask matured, so Little Brown Dog have given us a real oddity which combines Speyside and Islay. Smooth yet smoky, the 16-Years in an ex-Islay whisky cask have had a real impact with notes of lemon, salty brine, and smoke which combines well with Dailuiane’s robust meaty character. Definitely one to try for fans of unusual whiskies.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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