Dalmore 8 Years Old 1990 Cask #10942 (Dun Eideann)

This Dalmore was bottled by the bottler Dun Eideann, an 8 year old, distilled in 1990, from cask 10942, bottled at 60.4%, one of 600 bottles. 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 drawn off stills whose cooling jackets build a rich, oily spirit, for a full, opulent Highland spirit. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a soft orange behind the rich spirit. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and lactones a coconut, the spirit rich, oily and orange scented. The cool Highland air on the firth gives a slow, even maturation. Its long time master distiller Richard Paterson, known as The Nose, shaped the rich house style.

At a natural 60.4% it is full and honeyed. A rich, oily chocolate orange, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Marmalade, chocolate and dried fruit fill the middle. A long, opulent finish carries a chocolate orange depth. This is Dalmore, rich with orange and dark chocolate.