Dalmore 19 Years Old (46%)

This official Dalmore, a 19 year old, at 46%. Dalmore was founded in 1839 at Alness, and wears the twelve pointed Royal Stag of the Mackenzie clan. Its long time master distiller Richard Paterson, known as The Nose, shaped the rich house style.

It was run through the distillery's unusual flat topped and water jacketed stills, building the luscious Dalmore style. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the rich character to the fore. At oxidative maturity aldehydes and esters lend dried fruit while ellagitannins add a drying, tannic grip. Refill oak lets the full bodied Dalmore character lead, orange and dried fruit beneath. Maturation in the cool north keeps the rich spirit balanced over the years. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the rich, sherried core over the years. 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.

At 46% it is clean and soft. Orange, dark chocolate and dried fruit, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The texture is thick and oily, the fruit lifted by a rich sherry. The close is long, fruit over a rich sherry. This is one of the Highlands' most opulent single malts.