Dalmore 18

The third of four of the Dalmore sample kit I picked up. This is the one I was least interested in, though it’s one of the more expensive ones which I’d never bother to try for the price otherwise, so that’s nice. It’s also nice to try one of the core range that doesn’t have some ‘special’ thing to it. So let’s get to it.

Dalmore 18, Highland Single Malt, 43% ABV

Minutia: Matured for a total of 18 years in various casks. I’ve read it spends 14 years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, 3 years in Matusalem Oloroso Sherry casks, and a final year in other Sherry casks, but Dalmore’s website only mentioned the first two kinds of casks. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Auburn, polished mahogany; 1.5.

Nose: Musty, fruity, malt.

Taste: Quite a bit going on. It’s fruity, nutty, a bit sweet, spices and herbs, and they dance back and forth in prominence.

Finish: Nutty, warm. A bit like chocolate. It tapers down after a short while to a mild nut flavor with some spices there now and again. Medium-long.

It’s not quite for me as I strongly prefer peat, but I was pleasantly surprised by this. It’s interesting enough to be enjoyable even without my preferred flavor elements. A far cry from a good value, but a nice dram.

Score: 75