Dalmore 16 Years Old 2006 Cask #1035979 (Duncan Taylor)

From the Huntly bottler Duncan Taylor, a 16 year old Dalmore, distilled in 2006, from cask 1035979, bottled at 52.1%, one of 82 bottles. Dalmore is a Highland distillery on the Cromarty Firth, famous for its rich, heavily sherried single malt. Much of its sherry comes from aged Oloroso casks, the Matusalem, Apostoles and Amoroso butts of Gonzalez Byass.

Worked through flat topped and water jacketed stills for a rich, oily spirit, for the rich, full bodied make Dalmore is known for. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the thick spirit. In the oxidative middle years oxidation draws out a deeper dried fruit, vanillin and lactones fully expressed. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to chocolate, marmalade and treacle. The distillery was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson on the Cromarty Firth at Alness. Refill oak lets the full bodied Dalmore character lead, orange and dried fruit beneath.

At 52.1%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. Dried fruit, orange and a treacly malt, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. The finish is deep, sherried and dark. This is Dalmore's opulent, chocolate orange Highland style.