Tastes

I have read that vintage expressions from Dalmore from the late 90s to the early 2000s aren't what you expected from one of my top favorite distilleries. Nevertheless i had to try for myself if such thing is true, so when i ran into this Port Vintage 1998 Dalmore i did not hesitate to ask a dram of it. Lets see how things went. Bottled at 44%abv. On the nose, not your typical Dalmore, Port wood profiles are all over the place: Tobacco, Orange candy, Soap (oh oh), Coffee. Old Orange peel, Brown sugar, But there is this soap in the back. Chocolate bathed oranges. After first sip nose opens into a good coffee note with hints of Burnt oak. Not balanced, maybe a little too crazy. On the palate, it is very nice and easy drinkable but maybe boring. You can hold it easily; Almonds, Chesnuts and Caramel. That's it. Aftertaste is by far the best part of it, with a lovely finish of Chocolate powder, Cinnamon spice and a very pleasant Tobacco finish. Overall it feels like tobacco is present everywhere in this dram in a good way. It wasn't the best Dalmore, and it just barely made it to the 4 star mark, i am not fond of port whiskies so i might not be the best on to judge this one, for me it is a 80/100.

An experiment from one of my favorite distilleries, this Port Wood Reserve has been matured first in American ex bourbon casks and then finished in Tawny port pipes from W&J Graham. Bottled at 46.5% a good strength for a whisky. Tawny color. On the nose, Coffee, Sawdust, Orange, Coffee beans, Burnt cake crest. The higher coffee note i have ever picked in a whisky ever. Tiramisú, even the cream of it. After first sip it goes powerfully citric. Dark chocolate so heavy. Cocoa. Wonderfully complex on the nose but not perfect. On the palate, Oranges, Dark chocolate, Vanilla powder, Oak, Tobacco and Ginger. A little power due to the abv. Aftertaste is spicy. Oak spice and ginger. Some bitterness from tobacco or Dark Chocolate. Overall this is a good whisky, pretty interesting, it can be wonderfully paired with some dark chocolate with 70% cocoa on it. 89 over 100.

The third of the Fortuna Meritas travel exclusive collection of Dalmore (the other ones are Valour, Regalis and the amazing Dominium), is amazing on the nose but fails to deliver on the palate. Still a good dram. Bottled at 40%abv, tawny almost deep copper color. On the nose it is absolutely fantastic. Perfect score here. amazing chocolate note, cherries bathed in chocolate, caramel, oranges, chocolate powder, dry cherries. Hazelnut, not a single alcohol note. Even if its not as intense as others, its amazing. Cocoa and Vanilla essence after a while. On the palate it is too thin. Chocolate. Feels buttery on tongue. Superbly sweet you can hold it easily. A little watery, Maybe too much. Coffee beans. Aftertaste is lovely but short with cinnamon and powder. Overall this could be so much better since the nose is spectacular. It doesn't feel like a traditional dalmore since the raisins and figs are gone. 87 over 100.

Dalmore is one of the best whiskies a man can get. I personally love everything they do and i recommend it. Regalis, not the best of this distillery, still is a great great dram. Bottled at 40%abv with a beautiful reddish old oak color. On the nose is simply sublime, outstanding. Notes: caramelized apple, brown sugar, cremè bruleé, almonds and cotton candy. Its an angel's touch. On the palate all the sweetness mixes with some bold notes. Creme brulee, toasted sugar, maple honey, hot oak, spices and a bonfire finish which is lovely but not that long. Overall i give this beauty an 86 over 100, highly recommended if you are in a duty free, since it is only for the travel retail market. Cheers!

I have long awaited to taste this legendary whisky. Is it good? It is wonderful. Is it what i expected to be... maybe not. Lets start saying why is it so mystical. It has been matured in six different casks, six wood finishes: matusalem oloroso, port pipes, marsala, madeira, cabernet sauvignon, american white oak. Bottled at 40% abv, with a lovely mahogany color. On the nose it is outstanding. Just plain beautiful. Berries. Jam. Nutmeg. Wedding cake. Dark cake. There is a citric note there. Red fruits. Cold red fruits (winter berries). It is exactly as a cold pressed antioxidant juice that is sold here in Ecuador called "D'hoy frutos rojos". On the palate is where i expected more. I really hoped it will blow my mind away but was a little straightforward, somehow mimic the nose losing some of the complexity it had there. Still a great and interesting dram. It has that Dalmore typical wood flavor. There is a sweet but woody flavor. Peppermint. Reminded me a lot as glenfiddich 21yo winter storm, specially on the nose. I believe it is a little straightforward and not that complex. The aftertaste is eternal. Full ginger spiciness there. Incredible. My actual score for it was 95 over 100, due to this: Nose 25/25 Palate 22/25 Finish 25/25 Balance 23/25. Maybe i am too "picky" over this one because i had high hopes on it. It is a wonderful dram, i believe it is worthy for the $150-170 that it costs, and you should definitively try it, for me, cigar malt is slightly better. It doesn't feel as an old dram, i don't believe the six wood finishes fully get there, but as i said before, it is a wonderful whisky. Slainte!

I had my first whisky tasting party yesterday to celebrate World Whisky Day, and i had some fine drams, one of those was this beauty, The Dalmore Valour. As the other Dalmore i had, (12yo), this one is Fantastic. Bottled at 40%abv, with a marvelous Mahogany Color. On the nose is so perfect, with the Dalmore traditional profile aroma, full of blackberry marmalade, cherries, christmas cake, vanilla, plum, toasted bread, tobacco and hazelnut notes. On the Palate is also great, offering those Dalmore trademark flavors: Oak, cough syrup, maple honey, bread and vanilla cake. Full bodied, the finish is medium with sweet notes. Wonderful Whisky, 89 out of 100, very recommended, suitable for a Family party or special occasion.

There is an spanish song that says: "there is a guy who is dissapointed at the Godfather part 2" well, i am kind of dissapointed about this dram. I love The Dalmore, i love everything about it. I have had the 12yo, the Valour, The regalis, all incredible drinks. This one is an excelent elegant dram, but doesn't quite live to my expectations for it. Bottled at 40%abv, with a reddish amber color. On the nose is very beautiful, promising lots of good things on the palate. Liquorice, toasted caramel, creme brulee, oranges and brown sugar notes are the main aroma. On the palate is too elegant and fancy, and that is not necessarily a good thing. Ultra smooth, with a solid sherry note, caramel, brown sugar and the dissapointing short tobacco finish. Expected a lot more. Fancy and elegant but not exciting. Overall i give this one an 84 over 100, the lowest score for my dalmores. Still a great dram, but dalmore can do a lot better.

A fine fancy Whisky. Almost a 5.0, with a nose very different than the palate, you can easily determine that it has been beautifully crafted. Bottled at 43%abv, with an auburn polished mahogany. On the nose is very special. Fresh cherry syrup (that's a first), recently baked vanilla cake, slight sweet liquorice note, jelly beans, nutmeg, sugar. Lovely aroma but a little dim. On the palate, is fine but i believe it could be better. Starts with old citric notes, Oranges and Old raisins. Woody very woody. Bonfire finish, Ashy finish. Fancy and a little dry, has a slight peppery note. Finish is very long, that being the best perk of this dram. Overall this elegant dram is a 94 over 100, nice score suitable for one of my favorite brands. Cheers!

A very interesting dram, nice aroma notes and a powerful palate. Not the best whisky there is but not bad at all. Bottled at 40% On the nose, citric is the name of the game. Cream vanilla, Prunes, LEMON: lemon peel, Lemon pie. On the palate a little less appealing, but still good. Caramel, Pepper explosion, Salt, Feels like talisker. Slight peat. Short finish with Bitter tobacco and ginger finish. Overall a very nice whisky that won't change anyone's life but definitively worth a couple of drams every now and then. 81/100

I am not fond of speyside malts, but this one i recommend. Nothing to die for, but definitively one of the greatest expressions i have had from that scottish region. As expected very light aroma, but a surprising taste and finish makes this one worth your money. Bottled at 46%abv (this is why it is better than other speyside malts) burnished gold color. On the nose is typical speyside and very simple: Pear juice, Apple juice Cinammon spice very gentle, Vanilla cream. On the palate it is full and delicious: Oaky, Spicy, Orange. Actually a Spice bomb; Caramelized apple and Honey. There is a puff of smoke somewhere. Call me crazy but it is there. Finish is long, another spice bomb made by pepper with some smoke. Overall i give to this fine dram a well deserved 89/100, and i am looking forward to taste older expressions.