Dalmore 1986/2012, Mackillop’s Choice, cask 3099, 43%
Dalmore is not an unknown name in whisky, even for non whisky drinkers. After all its several entries in the ultra luxury market and all that marketing dollars does give it wide publicity. In fact, right now you could head over to Harrods and buy yourself twelve Dalmores for a million pounds. A brand like this must have its support: Say Dalmore and one immediately thinks of Whyte and Mackay and the indomitable Richard Patterson, who did lend his name to the said million pound range. Dalmore is definitely their horse in that high stakes race.
Not quite the prettiest of distilleries though.
But what’s in the bottle? Dalmore’s core range is fairly wide and the house style has a large sherry element, though like Glenmorangie, casks from other style of wine now feature heavily as well. But unlike its nearby Highland neighbours Teaninich and Glenmorangie, Dalmore is known for a heavier fatter spirit that would not be out of place in Speyside. The stills hold a clue:
(Image: Departures)
The spirit stills are unusually equipped with a water cooled jacket to encourage quick condensation of vapours into new make. But note the flat topped wash stills with a pinched neck, here reflux is encouraged. And also – all the stills in both the old and new still house are of different shapes and sizes. But of course stills aren’t everything, new make is the product of the whole production regime.
This particular Dalmore was bottled in 1986 and spent 25 years in bourbon wood. Noteworthy mention: Dalmore operated its own maltings via Saladin boxes till 1982, rather late for a distillery.
Nose: Quite thick and weighty really. Barley sugar, dry vanilla pods, and patisserie flavours – fluffy cream and choux pastry, all subtley melded. Also fresh berries – strawberries? And gentle florals – orange blossom water and lilacs? Citrus peel drying next to the candied ginger. Very inviting.
Palette: Dusty but clean and dry. Ginger cream or eucalyptus that gets rounder and sweeter with some fruits. Something citrusy and peachy, all with enough of a cereal bite.
Finish: Fairly long, malt and gingersnaps.
The nose was the best part of this one though the taste of it was not bad either. Still, not quite lush as some speysiders though it suggests it’s style is certainly heavier/richer/more satisfying than the neighbours.
Whiskyrific RSS
- Millburn 36 yo 1969 / 2005 Douglas Laing #DL2152 50% vs Glenburgie 40 yo 1963 / 2003 Signatory #4751 56.4%
- Ben Nevis 23 yo 1996 / 2019 Single Malts of Scotland for the Nectar #536 51.3% vs A Speyside Distillery 32 yo 1989 / 2022 Thompson Bros 51.4%
- Brora 22 yo 1972 / 1995 Rare Malts 61.1% vs Brora 22 yo 1972 / 1995 Rare Malts 58.7%
- Talimburg 19 yo 1986 / 2005 The Whisky Fair #1485 45.9% vs Talisker 20 yo 1981 / 2002 62%
- Caol Ila 12 yo Bulloch Lade for Zenith 43% vs Caol Ila 30 yo 1979 / 2010 Berry Bros #4604/5 55.6%
- Clynelish 29 yo 1965 Whyte & Whyte 52.1%
- Brora 21 yo 1982 / 2003 Signatory #416 58.4% vs Clynelish 27 yo 1982 / 2009 Synch Eli Daily Dram 46%
- Dornoch 5 yo 2017 / 2023 #46 ‘Jasper Broers’ 57.9% vs Shizuoka ‘private cask’ 2017 / 2022 #2017-108 61%
- Clynelish 26 yo 1993 / 2020 Carn Mor #11215 52.7% vs Bowmore 17 yo 2004 /2021 SMWS 3.327 ‘Siren’s Song’ 57.1%
- Talisker 25 yo ‘Bottle TA25 3987’ 45.8% ~ bottle code L0296CM004 bottled 2020 vs Ledaig 11 yo 2008 / 2019 The Swan Song & 1BRD #700104 58.7%
whiskyrific 