Dalmore 18 Years Old 2007 The Alba Trail (Alba Import)

From the bottler Alba Import, an 18 year old Dalmore, distilled in 2007, bottled at 46%. Dalmore is a full bodied, sherried Highland single malt from the shores of the Cromarty Firth. Much of its sherry comes from aged Oloroso casks, the Matusalem, Apostoles and Amoroso butts of Gonzalez Byass.

It was drawn off stills whose cooling jackets build a rich, oily spirit, giving the thick, oily spirit that drinks sherry so well. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding vanilla and a soft honey. At oxidative maturity aldehydes and esters lend dried fruit while ellagitannins add a drying, tannic grip. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the rich, sherried core over the years. The Dalmore range climbs to some of the oldest and most expensive whiskies in the world. The distillery stands on the firth near Alness, in the Northern Highlands. The rich, oily spirit takes cask flavour superbly, especially aged sherry wood.

Reduced to 46%, it is mellow. Dried fruit, orange and a treacly malt, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Marmalade, chocolate and dried fruit fill the middle. It finishes rich, malty and warm. This is a chocolate, orange and dried fruit Highland single malt.