Dallas Dhu 10 (Gordon & MacPhail)

It's time for a special single malt for our distillery tasting group: Dallas Dhu 10. The Dallas Dhu distillery first opened its doors in 1899 and ceased operations in 1983. The distillery building itself still stands, complete with functional equipment, and now serves as a museum. They have one operational still that produces approximately 5,600 liters annually, which I believe is only enough to provide whisky samples for museum visitors after their tour. "Dallas Dhu" translates to "black water valley." This independent bottling was offered by Gordon & MacPhail and, due to its rarity, cost a remarkable $290. It's certainly not worth that price, but one must pay for a piece of history like this, especially nowadays. Moving on to the tasting notes: visually, it's a dark gold in the Glencairn. Thin, fast-moving legs leave behind large droplets of water on the rim. This is mainly because it's bottled at the minimum 40% ABV. The nose is dominated by butterscotch. It's very sweet and sugary, with notes of fresh oak and young spirit—which is quite surprising considering it's been in this twist-off capped bottle since the early 1990s. There are some faint pepper notes if you allow it to sit for a while. The palate is quite weak, offering more butterscotch and sweet vanilla. It's very watery with no perceptible heat. The mouthfeel is oily and sugary. The finish is also weak and somewhat brief, but oily. The sugary notes persist, and while it doesn't detract significantly, it also prevents any complexity. But then again, who expects complexity from a 10-year-old, defunct distillery? If it had more character to draw upon, it probably wouldn't have closed in the first place. Haha. In conclusion, it's interesting to taste a piece of history, but this isn't a dram to actively seek out or spend a lot of money on. I was pleased I could include it for the group as we conclude our tasting journey. A score of 2.5 stars for that. Enjoy this one, gentlemen, we'll never have it again. Cheers.

First up is Dallas Dhu, the 100th stop. I decided to commemorate this milestone with a (nearly) shuttered distillery. As a friend mentioned, they only offer whisky for sale at their tour's conclusion. This Highland single malt is presented by the independent outfit Gordon and MacPhail. Considering its age and the closure date, this spirit has been maturing for a substantial period. It's bottled at 40% ABV, likely possesses a natural amber hue, and is certainly chill-filtered given its 40% strength. Initially, the aroma greets you with delightful sherry notes, but it soon becomes clear that sulphur is the dominant characteristic. It's less fruity and more sweet, with abundant butterscotch and toffee, vanilla, and a touch of chocolate. There's a slightly nutty quality, akin to bitter walnuts, and some mild oak. Not much else follows. The taste is peculiar. Sherry is present, but so is a lot of sulphur and a medicinal, cough syrup flavor. Intense vanilla and butterscotch, with an aromatic profile. It's quite peculiar and unusual, with slightly bitter walnuts. It lacks significant complexity, but the flavors that do emerge are potent. It has a medium body, feels very oily, and coats the mouth. The finish is medium in length, featuring sulphur, vanilla, and it stays bitter. The aroma was initially so promising with its rich sherry notes, but it rapidly descended into a bitter, sulphurous disaster. Lacking any real depth and certainly not worth the price. However, the cost is understandable given the scarcity of a closed distillery. The aroma is its sole redeeming feature, and even that isn't particularly impressive. A score of 2.75, and thanks to a friend for the sample. Cheers

A special pour that someone provided for our virtual tour of Scotland via actual scotch. Their review offers a good summary of the distillery. A fine drink to kick off a much-needed three-day weekend. Relaxing on the couch, pouring the sample into a Glencairn... A vibrant amber hue that is appealing. Immediate notes of rich sherry. Walnuts, raisins, and figs. A woody quality lingers in the background. More fruits emerge. Syrupy cherries, like Luxardo cherries, and apples. Plenty of sweetness, but not excessive. Dark brown sugar and dark chocolate, balanced by a pinch of ground cinnamon and nutmeg. Given the rich nose, the palate has a surprisingly thin texture, lighter than water. An initial sweetness of caramel or butterscotch. The sweetness quickly dissipates, giving way to baking spices: cinnamon and nutmeg. Drying oak begins to establish itself as it transitions into the finish. The palate remains dry and oaken with vanilla bean and an earthy character. The dryness ultimately prevails and persists for a considerable duration. The nose is very promising and quite alluring, one of the best-nosed spirits I've encountered; unfortunately, it doesn't quite deliver on its potential. It lacks weight and depth, which is somewhat disappointing as you anticipate more from it than it can actually provide. The discernible flavors, however, are pleasing and enjoyable. Thanks for the experience. [84/100][Tasted: 2/15/19]

I decided to try this after seeing posts from others. This sample was provided by a friend who went to great lengths to get it, given its scarcity and cost. I am convinced there's a reason some distilleries shut down. During economic downturns, they likely couldn't compete with others for various reasons. During good times, even poor ones survive, but downturns lead to elimination. We've seen three closed distilleries on our journey so far. One was just mediocre. Haven't tried another yet. This one... well, let's find out. The aroma resembles old books in a dusty library, in a positive way. It evokes something ancient and refined. However, that profile doesn't carry into the taste. The flavor is... odd. Difficult to pinpoint... plasticky, vegetal, sulfuric. Not enjoyable. Typically, I'd rate this a 2 – I enjoyed the aroma, but the palate was a significant failure. However, I'm increasing it to a 3 due to its rarity. It's the kind of bottle that requires a substantial investment to acquire. Thank you to my friend for this!