Dalmore Vintage 22 Years Old 1990

Dalmore from the distillery, a 22 year old, from 1990, cask 1, at 51.8%. Dalmore, on the firth at Alness, makes one of the most luscious, sherried malts in the Highlands. The distillery was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson on the Cromarty Firth at Alness.

Distilled in flat topped wash stills and water jacketed spirit stills on River Averon water, building the luscious Dalmore style. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a soft orange behind the rich spirit. In the oxidative, evaporative years concentration brings dried fruit, fig, coffee and a treacly depth over a rich malt. The cool Highland air on the firth gives a slow, even maturation. Its flat topped wash stills and water jacketed spirit stills build a thick, rich, oily spirit. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to chocolate, marmalade and treacle. Its spirit stills wear cooling water jackets, condensing the heavier compounds back for a fuller body.

At cask strength 51.8% it is full bodied. Orange, dark chocolate and dried fruit, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. It finishes rich, malty and warm. This is one of the Highlands' most opulent single malts.