Dalmunach 3 Years Old 2016 Cask #10825773 (Duncan Taylor)

A Dalmunach of a 3 year old chosen by the Huntly bottler Duncan Taylor, distilled in 2016, from cask 10825773, bottled at 54.9%, one of 78 bottles. Dalmunach is a large modern Speyside distillery at Carron, built in 2015 on the site of the old Imperial distillery. It is one of the largest and most efficient malt distilleries in Scotland, with a heat recovery system.

The spirit was run through the distillery's tulip and onion shaped stills, building the clean Dalmunach style. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the light spirit. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted sugars (light caramel) into the fresh make, the spirit still vibrant. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit to the fore. Years in oak round the young spirit, the fruit deepening to honey and orchard fruit. The light, fruity spirit takes cask flavour readily while keeping its fresh, clean core.

At a natural 54.9% it is full and honeyed. A light, clean fruitiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A clean citrus and a soft oak give it lift. The close is clean, fruit over a gentle oak. This is a fresh Speyside malt of the new generation.