Dalmore Single Cask #595 23 Years Old 1979 (Ex-Bourbon)

An official release of Dalmore, a 23 year old, from 1979, cask 595, at 54.6%. Dalmore, on the firth at Alness, makes one of the most luscious, sherried malts in the Highlands. Its spirit stills wear cooling water jackets, condensing the heavier compounds back for a fuller body.

Distilled in flat topped wash stills and water jacketed spirit stills on River Averon water, to build a rich, sherry loving character. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the oak letting the full bodied, oily character lead. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend a drying structure while oxidation builds a richer, darker fruit. The water jacketed stills give a heavy spirit that soaks up sherry over a long maturation. Dalmore's sherry comes largely from the aged Oloroso casks of Gonzalez Byass. The Royal Stag style is built on rich spirit and deep sherry wood. The rich, oily spirit takes cask flavour superbly, especially aged sherry wood.

At a hearty 54.6% it carries real weight. Orange, dark chocolate and dried fruit, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run orange, dark chocolate and dried fruit. The finish is long, rich and chocolatey. This is a rich, full bodied Highland single malt.