Fable Chapter Three - Dailuaine 11 Year Old 2010

The third installment of this series, focusing on the Moon, features a Linkwood 12. This expression is part of Chapter Three, which has had 22 releases since 2008, all Dailuaine distillates aged in refill ex-bourbon hogsheads as single casks at cask strength. These bottlings vary in quantity and market. This particular dram is the 3rd release, distilled in 2010 and aged for 11 years. 275 bottles were produced at 59.4% ABV for the Australian, Danish, German, and UK markets. Nose: A light yet potent aroma of tart apple, red berries, and sweet barley. Hints of light spice and grilled pineapple. Palate: Medium body with a grainy, creamy feel. Notes of vanilla-kissed toast and heavy oak char dominate. A slight alcoholic bite resembles harsh black pepper. A delicate grassy, floral character struggles against the strong malt and oak spice. Finish: Medium-short with honeyed apple, shortbread, and a touch of tannic vanilla. Adding water introduces a subtle waxiness to the nose and palate, with hints of coconut and a faint metallic note developing on the palate. The finish becomes slightly smoother, revealing pleasant spicy pepper notes beneath the tannic vanilla. Information from the Fable website reveals that Dailuaine Distillery's name originates from the Scottish Gaelic 'An dail uaine,' meaning 'green valley.' Whiskies from this distillery are seldom encountered and highly valued when they appear. Diageo, the owner, primarily utilizes this malt in blends like Johnnie Walker, reserving only the finest casks for independent bottling, typically as vintage or age-stated cask strength releases. This bottling aligns with that profile: an age-stated, cask strength, limited release. However, it falls short for me across the board. The nose is the most compelling aspect, offering some pleasant fruit depth, but the acidity feels overly sharp. It declines from there. The palate is intense and fails to reveal the more appealing elements hidden beneath the oak. After three chapters of Fable, I've discerned a pattern. As I've stated before, this brand prioritizes presentation over content and definitely doesn't justify its price tag.