Dalmore Luceo

A Dalmore, a distillery bottling, at 40%. Dalmore was founded in 1839 at Alness, and wears the twelve pointed Royal Stag of the Mackenzie clan. The distillery was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson on the Cromarty Firth at Alness.

It was distilled in flat topped wash stills and water jacketed spirit stills on River Averon water, giving the thick, oily spirit that drinks sherry so well. A Pedro Ximenez cask added raisin, date, fig and a treacle sweetness. Without an age statement, vanillin sweetness and a chocolate orange depth point to good years in oak. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to chocolate, marmalade and treacle. The cool Highland air on the firth gives a slow, even maturation. The Dalmore range climbs to some of the oldest and most expensive whiskies in the world. Its long time master distiller Richard Paterson, known as The Nose, shaped the rich house style.

At 40% it is gentle, sweet and fruity. Marmalade, chocolate and a malty depth, with dried fruit, chocolate and orange from the cask. 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.