.the dalmore - 15

Day five of the Drinks by the Dram advent calendar 2015. Behind door number 5, they have hidden a 15 year old Dalmore. I am not a big fan of the Dalmore, so let's see what this update brings to my note...

.the dalmore - king alexander III

40% abv, €120, single malt, natural colour

Nose: fruit, green apples, pears, pineapple, toffee, vanilla, cereals
Palate: sweet, sour, fresh herbs, fruits, fat - like butter
Finish: short, bitter, spicy, white pepper
Mark: +/++++

Conclusion: [starts laughing] For that price? No.

More info from the website: "Crafted to honour the act of saving Scotland’s King in 1263, this expression unites six specially selected casks housing spirit of perfect maturity. Whiskies matured in ex-bourbon casks, Matusalem Oloroso sherry wood, Madeira barrels, Marsala casks, port pipes and Cabernet Sauvignon wine barriques are brought together in perfect harmony. Each cask gives its own flavour notes, delivering a unique complex single malt..."

.the dalmore - 18

43% abv, €80, single malt, caramel E150a added

Nose: sweet, vanilla, caramel, fruits, apples, pears, mangos, hospital
Palate: sweet, caramel, vanilla, red fruits, strawberries, apple-pie, white pepper
Finish: slight bitter, spicy, white peppers, wet dog
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: sigh... no, just no. Not for me at least, certainly not for that money.

More info: Matured for 14 years in ex-Bourbon casks, after which all of the batch is transferred into 30 year old Matusalem Olorose ex-Sherry butts for another four years.

.the dalmore - gran reserva

picture from
whiskybase.com

40% abv, €45, single malt, caramel E150a added

Nose: sweet, red wine, raisins
Palate: spicy, fruit, banana, raisins, cherries, fat, butter, slight bitter
Finish: short, bitter
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: I am not a big fan of the Dalmore, and again I find this one rather boring. The nose is nice though.

More info: this is a mix of the Dalmore that has partly matured for ten to fifteen years in first fill ex-Bourbon casks and partly in first fill ex-Oloroso Sherry casks, after which it is married in ex-Sherry butts to finish during six months.

.the dalmore - 12

40% abv, €35, single malt, caramel E150a added

Nose: sweet, rum soaked raisins, chocolate, fruit, red berries, fresh basil
Palate: spicy, white pepper, raisins, red berries, strawberries
Finish: short, red wine, slight bitter
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: Quite boring.

More info: Matured during nine years in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks. The next three years, half of that batch continues in ex-Bourbon casks, the other half gets finished in 30-year-old ex-Matusalem Oloroso Sherry butts. My guess here is that they have used a lot of caramel in order to get the colour 'right', I would love to have a head to head with the same product with, and without caramel.