After a maturation in standard American oak casks, The Dalmore 18 Years spends three years in Matusalem sherry butts and then some time in ‘other’ sherry butts.
Dalmore 18 yo
(43%, OB +/- 2017)
Nose: nice and thick, with plenty of the sherry shining through. Full of fruit cake, raisins, blood oranges and milk chocolate. A hint of cherries. Hints of crème brûlée and dark bread. Some vanilla and a hint of potpourri.
Mouth: smooth, thick and almost syrupy, with honey, chocolate coated raisins, dark bread again. Drier hints of tobacco and pepper. Liquorice. A bitter hint of marmalade as well.
Finish: fairly long, on dark chocolate, walnuts and sticky toffee pudding.
I may not be the biggest Dalmore fan, but this is good. If only it were a little less sweet and had a slightly higher strength… Available from Master of Malt and TWE for instance.
Score: 86/100