Dalmore Vintage Collection 15 Years Old 2008

A 15 year old Dalmore, a distillery bottling, from 2008, at 45.8%. Dalmore was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson and long run by the Mackenzies. The distillery was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson on the Cromarty Firth at Alness.

It was distilled for the thick, full bodied spirit Dalmore is known for, for a full, opulent Highland spirit. A sherry cask held it, the wood lending raisin, fig, orange and a coffee depth. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, the sherry turning to marmalade, treacle and dark chocolate. Dalmore's sherry comes largely from the aged Oloroso casks of Gonzalez Byass. An aged Oloroso cask suits the rich spirit, dried fruit and chocolate meeting the oily weight. The rich, oily spirit takes cask flavour superbly, especially aged sherry wood. 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.

Bottled at 45.8%, it is rounded. Marmalade, chocolate and a malty depth, with raisin, date, fig and treacle from the cask. The mouthfeel is heavy, the fruit carried on a rich, malty body. The finish is long, rich and chocolatey. This is the rich, sherried Highland malt of Dalmore.