Dalmore Constellation Collection 33 Years Old 1978

Dalmore from the distillery, a 33 year old, from 1978, cask 1, at 47.1%, 778 bottles in all. Dalmore is a full bodied, sherried Highland single malt from the shores of the Cromarty Firth. Much of its sherry comes from aged Oloroso casks, the Matusalem, Apostoles and Amoroso butts of Gonzalez Byass.

The spirit was run through the distillery's unusual flat topped and water jacketed stills, building the luscious Dalmore style. A sherry cask held it, the wood lending raisin, fig, orange and a coffee depth. Ethereal and old, decades draw the malt to a rich, waxy depth of sotolon, old oak and dried fruit. The cool Highland air on the firth gives a slow, even maturation. The distillery stands on the firth near Alness, in the Northern Highlands. An aged Oloroso cask suits the rich spirit, dried fruit and chocolate meeting the oily weight.

At a hearty 47.1% it carries real weight. Marmalade, chocolate and a malty depth, with dried fruit, chocolate and orange from the cask. The mouthfeel is heavy, the fruit carried on a rich, malty body. Dried fruit, orange and a treacly oak see out the finish. This is the rich, sherried Highland malt of Dalmore.