Dalmore 12 Years Old 1999 Cask #CM165 (The House of MacDuff)

A 12 year old Dalmore from the bottler The House of MacDuff, distilled in 1999, from cask CM165, bottled at 57.2%, one of 175 bottles. Dalmore is a rich, chocolate and orange Highland single malt, deeply marked by sherry wood. Much of its sherry comes from aged Oloroso casks, the Matusalem, Apostoles and Amoroso butts of Gonzalez Byass.

It was run through the distillery's unusual flat topped and water jacketed stills, for the rich, full bodied make Dalmore is known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and citrus beneath the rich malt. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the rich body fuller and darker. The cool Highland air on the firth gives a slow, even maturation. The water jacketed stills give a heavy spirit that soaks up sherry over a long maturation. An aged Oloroso cask suits the rich spirit, dried fruit and chocolate meeting the oily weight.

At cask strength 57.2% it is full bodied. A rich, sherried sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Marmalade, chocolate and dried fruit fill the middle. The finish runs rich, fruity and warm. This is Dalmore, rich with orange and dark chocolate.