Dalmunach 9 Years Old 2016 Cask #982 (The Caskhound)

A Dalmunach of a 9 year old chosen by the independent Caskhound, distilled in 2016, from cask 982, bottled at 59.7%, one of 240 bottles. Dalmunach is a striking new Speyside distillery on the banks of the Spey, named for a pool in the river. Sixteen stainless washbacks feed four wash and four spirit stills.

Run through the distillery's tulip and onion shaped stills, for a bright, modern Speyside spirit. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness to the clean spirit. These early years are extractive, the oak surrendering vanillin as vanilla and oak lactones as coconut to a fresh, fruity make. Even young, the spirit shows a clean, fruity Speyside charm. The name comes from the Dalmunach pool, a stretch of the Spey beside the distillery. The distillery sits at Carron, in the heart of Speyside on the Spey. Refill oak lets the fresh Dalmunach character lead, apple and citrus beneath.

At a hearty 59.7% it carries real weight. A fresh, fruity sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The texture is light and clean, the fruit lifted by vanilla. The finish is light, fruity and clean. This is a fresh Speyside malt of the new generation.