A new addition to the Dalmore family. Dalmore 18 year old is finished in Matusalem sherry casks and bottles at 43%.
Tasting Notes by Serge Valentin from www.whiskyfun.com
Nose: the wine strikes first here, with typical mildly sour and slightly sulphury notes at first nosing. The good news is that they’re soon to vanish, leaving room for more straight Dalmoreness, that is to say notes of chocolate, malt and oranges. Orange squash, ganache, blood oranges and just hints of strawberry jam. It’s still a bit vinous in fact but nothing too much. Keeps developing on fresh walnuts and a little ginger tonic – and Campari. The more you wait, the cleaner it gets. Nice nose.
Mouth: not big but balanced and a little antique in style, starting with notes of lavender and violet sweets, then the expected oranges and a delicate oakiness. Falls a bit after that, with a middle that’s maybe a tad thin. Some winey notes glimmer in the background.
Finish: not very long but a bit bolder again, with quite some cloves and dried oranges. Little winey notes at this point.
Comments: good Dalmore, just a tad too winey for my taste. I believe it would benefit from three or four more % abv. More or less in the same league as the good Dalmore King Alexander III.