Dalmunach Strawberries & Cream (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd.)

From the bottler The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd, a Dalmunach, from cask 9529, bottled at 58%, one of 600 bottles. Dalmunach, built on the Imperial site at Carron, is a modern Speysider made mostly for blends. Single malt Dalmunach is scarce, the spirit being a blend component first and foremost.

Made in modern copper stills for a clean, fresh make, giving the clean, fresh Speyside spirit. A red wine cask gave berry fruit and a dry spice. Carrying no age, soft vanillin (vanilla) and a fresh, fruity malt suggest a few years in cask. Dalmunach's modern, efficient stillhouse gives a consistent, fruity spirit. The fresh, fruity make is a model of the new Speyside style. Sixteen stainless washbacks feed four wash and four spirit stills. Independent bottlers have been quick to release young single casks of this new distillery. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruity malt.

At 58%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. Apple, lemon and a clean malt, with plum and red berry from the cask. A clean citrus and a soft oak give it lift. The finish is light, fruity and clean. This is a light, fruity Speyside single malt.