Dalmore The Quintet

Dalmore from the distillery, at 44.5%. Dalmore was founded in 1839 at Alness, and wears the twelve pointed Royal Stag of the Mackenzie clan. Water comes from the River Averon, drawn from Loch Morie in the hills above.

It was worked through flat topped and water jacketed stills for a rich, oily spirit, for a full, opulent Highland spirit. A Pedro Ximenez cask added raisin, date, fig and a treacle sweetness. No age is given, but vanillin vanilla and a rich, sherried malt are well integrated. Refill oak lets the full bodied Dalmore character lead, orange and dried fruit beneath. The full bodied make rewards a long, sherried maturation in good wood. The Dalmore range climbs to some of the oldest and most expensive whiskies in the world. An aged Oloroso cask suits the rich spirit, dried fruit and chocolate meeting the oily weight. Its flat topped wash stills and water jacketed spirit stills build a thick, rich, oily spirit.

At 44.5% it is smooth and honeyed. Baked fruit, coffee and a dark sweetness, with dried fruit, chocolate and orange from the cask. A dried fruit and a chocolate depth give it weight. It finishes rich, malty and warm. This is a chocolate, orange and dried fruit Highland single malt.