Dalmore 9 Years Old 2009 Cask #165 (Ian Macleod)

This Dalmore was bottled by the bottler Ian Macleod, a 9 year old, distilled in 2009, from cask 165, bottled at 58.4%, one of 285 bottles. Dalmore is a full bodied, sherried Highland single malt from the shores of the Cromarty Firth. It is owned by Whyte and Mackay, and its King Alexander III bottling nods to the clan legend.

The spirit was distilled for the thick, full bodied spirit Dalmore is known for, giving the thick, oily spirit that drinks sherry so well. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the rich character to the fore. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted sugars (caramel) over the full bodied malt. Maturation in the cool north keeps the rich spirit balanced over the years. Its long time master distiller Richard Paterson, known as The Nose, shaped the rich house style. The Dalmore range climbs to some of the oldest and most expensive whiskies in the world.

Bottled at a cask strength 58.4%, it is rich. A rich, sherried sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is heavy, the fruit carried on a rich, malty body. The finish is long, rich and chocolatey. This is Dalmore's opulent, chocolate orange Highland style.