Dalmore 7 Years Old 2007 Cask #2095 (James MacArthur)

A Dalmore of a 7 year old chosen by the bottler James MacArthur, distilled in 2007, from cask 2095, bottled at 45%. Dalmore, on the firth at Alness, makes one of the most luscious, sherried malts in the Highlands. 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 distilled in flat topped wash stills and water jacketed spirit stills on River Averon water, for the rich, full bodied make Dalmore is known for. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a soft orange behind the rich spirit. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and oak lactones as coconut over a rich, fruity spirit. Long ageing turns the fresh orange towards marmalade, dark chocolate, coffee and a warm spice. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the rich malt.

At 45% it is clean and soft. A full, dried fruit richness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a chocolate depth give it weight. The finish is long, rich and chocolatey. This is a chocolate, orange and dried fruit Highland single malt.