Alness 12 Years Old pst Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (Phil & Simon Thompson)

Alness 12 Years Old pst Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (Phil & Simon Thompson) is a blended malt Scotch from Phil & Simon Thompson. It marries single malts from more than one distillery, Dalmore among them. Most expressions are finished in aged sherry wood, giving orange, chocolate and treacle.

The Dalmore within gives a chocolate and orange richness. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the rich character to the fore. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to chocolate, marmalade and treacle. The Mackenzie clan ran it from 1867, and gave it the twelve pointed Royal Stag, after an ancestor saved King Alexander III from a charging stag in 1263. The distillery was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson on the Cromarty Firth at Alness. Long ageing turns the fresh orange towards marmalade, dark chocolate, coffee and a warm spice. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the rich malt.

At a hearty 50% it carries real weight. Orange, dried fruit and a dark chocolate richness run through it, full and sherried. The mouthfeel is heavy, the fruit carried on a rich, malty body. The finish is long, rich and chocolatey. A characterful blended malt Scotch.