Dalmore Vintage 10 Years Old 2001

This official Dalmore, a 10 year old, from 2001, at 48%. Dalmore, on the firth at Alness, makes one of the most luscious, sherried malts in the Highlands. Its long time master distiller Richard Paterson, known as The Nose, shaped the rich house style.

Made in copper stills whose water jackets give a heavy make, giving the thick, oily spirit that drinks sherry so well. A Pedro Ximenez cask added raisin, date, fig and a treacle sweetness. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the rich body fuller and darker. 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. Water comes from the River Averon, drawn from Loch Morie in the hills above. The rich, dried fruit style runs through the core range, from the twelve year old upward.

Bottled at a cask strength 48%, it is rich. A rich, sherried sweetness, with dried fruit, chocolate and orange from the cask. Beneath it run orange, dark chocolate and dried fruit. The close is long, fruit over a rich sherry. This is Dalmore's opulent, chocolate orange Highland style.