Dalmore Special Cask Finish – Black Pearl 12 Years Old 1992

An official release of Dalmore, a 12 year old, from 1992, at 40%. Dalmore sits above the Cromarty Firth, its water jacketed stills building a thick, oily spirit. Its long time master distiller Richard Paterson, known as The Nose, shaped the rich house style.

It was distilled for the thick, full bodied spirit Dalmore is known for, for a heavy, rich make that suits aged sherry wood. A bourbon barrel held it, vanilla and a marmalade citrus over the oily malt. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the rich, oily spirit growing rounder. The water jacketed stills give a heavy spirit that soaks up sherry over a long maturation. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to chocolate, marmalade and treacle. An aged Oloroso cask suits the rich spirit, dried fruit and chocolate meeting the oily weight.

At an approachable 40% it is soft and easy. Orange, dark chocolate and dried fruit, with raisin, orange and a caramelised nuttiness from the cask. It is full and rich, the opulent spirit shining through. The finish is long, rich and chocolatey. This is Dalmore's opulent, chocolate orange Highland style.