Dalmore 14 Years Old 1999 Cask #11939 (A.D. Rattray)

A.D. Rattray bottled this Dalmore, a 14 year old, distilled in 1999, from cask 11939, bottled at 53.8%, one of 322 bottles. Dalmore was founded in 1839 at Alness, and wears the twelve pointed Royal Stag of the Mackenzie clan. 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. Ex-Sherry wood, the Matusalem and Apostoles style, gave a deep marmalade and chocolate richness. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the sherry, fruit deepening to chocolate and orange. Maturation in the cool north keeps the rich spirit balanced over the years. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to chocolate, marmalade and treacle.

At its natural 53.8% it is concentrated. Orange, dark chocolate and dried fruit, with dried fruit, chocolate and orange from the cask. Marmalade, chocolate and dried fruit fill the middle. A full, sherried finish ends on orange and dark chocolate. This is the rich, sherried Highland malt of Dalmore.