Dalmunach 8 Years Old 2016 Cask #283 (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd.)

A Dalmunach of an 8 year old chosen by the bottler The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd, distilled in 2016, from cask 283, bottled at 57.5%, one of 324 bottles. Dalmunach is a vast, efficient Speyside distillery opened by Chivas Brothers in 2015. The clean, fruity make is a model of the modern Speyside style.

Made in modern copper stills for a clean, fresh make, for a light, fruity make of real freshness. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla over the clean spirit. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and oak lactones as coconut over a bright, fruity spirit. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruity malt. Years in oak round the young spirit, the fruit deepening to honey and orchard fruit. Refill oak lets the fresh Dalmunach character lead, apple and citrus beneath. Independent bottlers have been quick to release young single casks of this new distillery.

Bottled at a cask strength 57.5%, it is rich. A bright, fruity sweetness, with raisin and brown sugar from the cask. Apple, pear and a soft honey fill the middle. Apple, honey and a soft oak see out the finish. This is Dalmunach's clean, modern Speyside style.