Dalmore Vintage 19 Years Old 2003

Dalmore from the distillery, a 19 year old, from 2003, at 46.9%. Dalmore is a Highland distillery on the Cromarty Firth, famous for its rich, heavily sherried single malt. The distillery stands on the firth near Alness, in the Northern Highlands.

Distilled in flat topped wash stills and water jacketed spirit stills on River Averon water, to build a rich, sherry loving character. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the oak letting the full bodied, oily character lead. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, the sherry turning to marmalade, treacle and dark chocolate. Long ageing turns the fresh orange towards marmalade, dark chocolate, coffee and a warm spice. Most expressions are finished in aged sherry wood, giving orange, chocolate and treacle. 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.

Reduced to 46.9%, it is mellow. Orange, treacle and a warm spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is heavy, the fruit carried on a rich, malty body. It finishes rich, malty and warm. This is the Royal Stag malt of the Cromarty Firth.