Dalmore 18 Years Old 1996 Cask #8626 + 8628 (Ian Macleod)

This Dalmore was bottled by the bottler Ian Macleod, an 18 year old, distilled in 1996, from cask 8626 + 8628, bottled at 46%, one of 742 bottles. Dalmore was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson and long run by the Mackenzies. The distillery stands on the firth near Alness, in the Northern Highlands.

The spirit was drawn off stills whose cooling jackets build a rich, oily spirit, for a heavy, rich make that suits aged sherry wood. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and citrus beneath the rich malt. In the oxidative middle years oxidation draws out a deeper dried fruit, vanillin and lactones fully expressed. Refill oak lets the full bodied Dalmore character lead, orange and dried fruit beneath. Dalmore's sherry comes largely from the aged Oloroso casks of Gonzalez Byass. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the rich, sherried core over the years.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. A full, dried fruit richness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a chocolate depth give it weight. A full, sherried finish ends on orange and dark chocolate. This is one of the Highlands' most opulent single malts.