Dalmore 18 Years Old (43%, OB, 2016)

• Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: Dalmore Distillery
• Bottling: Emperador / Whyte & Mackay
• ABV: 43%
• Cost: £86.22

What they say:

An evolution of The Dalmore house style, this 18 year old expression harnesses bolder notes. A robust and formidable whisky, The Dalmore 18 year old showcases the result of extended maturation and the influence of the wood.

Matured initially for 14 years in American white oak ex-bourbon casks, the spirit is then transferred to 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry butts for a further four years. These sherry butts from the world-renowned sherry house Gonzalez Byass are selected exclusively for The Dalmore.

Aroma

Vanilla, dark chocolate, orange.

What I say:

Sampled at Meet The Blenders 2016 during our host (and Whyte & Mackay’s Master Blender) Richard Paterson’s introductory speech & guided tasting.

Colour:

Dark copper amber (14/20) fine tears, slender legs

Nose:

Dried fruits and nutty, sultana, fig, date, walnut, chocolate orange, cocoa, vanilla latte, marmalade, toasted almonds, spiced ginger and cinnamon, faint leather

Taste:

Soft and fuzzily warm, vanilla, gentle toffee and butterscotch, almond soft/stewed fruits in demerara sugar, sultanas/raisins, dates, hints of molasses, orange and ginger marmalade, milk chocolate, Terry’s chocolate orange, sherry trifle, a touch of cinnamon and starberries with black pepper

Finish:

Medium-long, fruit & nut, toffee and chocolate

Overall:

A quite deliciously luxurious and understated dram, like a comfortable leather sofa by an embering fire. This whisky fits your mouth like a glove(!) Full of fruit, nut and chocolate with little hints of spiced oak wood. Well done. Sampling this made me realised how little official Dalmore releases we have either sampled or laid down notes for here at The Whiskyphiles, something I intend to remedy with relish.

Score: 87/100

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