Dalmore 12 Years Old DMCo Highland Malt Scotch Whisky (Duncan Macbeth & Co)

From the bottler Duncan Macbeth & Co, a 12 year old Dalmore, bottled at 43%. Dalmore is a Whyte and Mackay distillery known for its opulent, dried fruit rich style. 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 spirit was run through the distillery's unusual flat topped and water jacketed stills, to build a rich, sherry loving character. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the oak letting the full bodied, oily character lead. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper orange and dried fruit. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to chocolate, marmalade and treacle. An aged Oloroso cask suits the rich spirit, dried fruit and chocolate meeting the oily weight. Water comes from the River Averon, drawn from Loch Morie in the hills above.

At 43% it is clean and soft. A rich, oily chocolate orange, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is full and rich, the opulent spirit shining through. A full, sherried finish ends on orange and dark chocolate. This is the rich, sherried Highland malt of Dalmore.