2010 Berry Bros. & Rudd Dailuaine, Cask Ref. 307760, Christmas Edition, Speyside, Single Malt Scotch Whisky (46%)

Seasonality changes my drinking decisions. When the weather is cold and daylight is scarce, I turn to deeper drams, darker of mood and fuller of body than ticklish suppertime fripperies. At Dailuaine, by a combination of longer than usual fermentation times and decreasing the copper-contact during condensing, the spirit is born full of weight and brooding intent. Plums and their dried sisters, prunes are the main fruity component here, with support from fellow orchard dwellers, red apples. Some chewy malt character and a sprinkling of spice from the ex-Oloroso hogshead round everything out handsomely.Rob Whitehead, Spirits Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd