Dalmore 14 Year

I’m working my way through the Dalmore core range. Here is the newest addition to the lineup. 14 years old, aged in PX sherry casks—the latter of which is a change from their standard use of Olorosso if I recall correctly. Let’s get right into it. Nose: Cranberry, raisin, date, and fig. Apple, apricot, and pear. Cherry and cola. Black currant. Plum and orange citrus. Milk chocolate, toffee, and vanilla. Cocoa. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Plum, raisin, date, fig, and cranberry. Milk chocolate, vanilla, toffee, malt, and orange citrus. Gala apple and red grape. Some pound cake and some chocolate/vanilla ice cream cake. Pear and apricot appear a bit later. Butterscotch. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Plum, grape, gala apple, raisin, fig, and date. Butterscotch, caramel, milk chocolate. Pear. Cranberry. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak. Moderate length. This is a very strong addition to the Dalmore lineup. Between this, the 12, 12 SS, Port Wood, and the 15, I believe this is the best of the bunch. At $100, this is a fine deal. Pedro Ximinez is an interesting variation in the Dalmore lineup, which typically features Olorosso. I like how it interacts with the spirit. A welcome addition to the core range. 4.5/5.

I am a Dalmore fan, that is not a secret to anyone by now. I try to acquire every new release (if it is financially possible), and they seem to have heard the feedback that Dalmore were releasing too many 40%abv expressions. That is why, this 14yo, Pedro Ximenez finish is a great move by the "Stagg" Distillery, who has provided us with a 43.8%abv dram. Tawny color. On the nose, your classic beautiful Dalmore. Peaches, figs, dark chocolate. Rum and raisins, cotton candy and cappuccino. Very fruity with a typical Dalmore note of school glue. After the first sip, the aroma changed into marshmallow, honey and tobacco. Three milk cake. On the palate, nice full flavor. Sawdust, jam, cherries and red fruits overall. Marshmallows. Very winey with a sulfur gunpowder note. Aftertaste also offers a full, complex sensation. Herbal, sawdust, hay, cinnamon and ginger. A dry finish, some tobacco and salty notes. A little bitter. Overall, I think this is 85% similar to the Cigar Malt, which is my favorite of the core range, I believe it to be even better than the King Alexander III. If I make that statement, you can only reach the conclusion that I really, really liked this one. A beautiful, very complex dram, my score for it is 92 out of 100.

It's uncommon to be the first to review a bottle. I have a Cigar Malt at home that I truly appreciate, and upon spotting this little treasure at my local shop, I decided to take it home. Shall we discover how it tastes? Absolutely... The aroma is rich with fruit and honey. To be honest, it smells delicious, and I hope the taste lives up to the promise. The initial sip offers a lot. The first flavors are honey and almond, followed by a rapid onset of warmth. It's not harsh, but more intense than anticipated. Then, the fruit flavor truly bursts forth. Red berries appear first, transitioning to hints of raisin on the finish. This drinks more like a Port finish than Sherry. The drawback is that after the initial sips, the fruity characteristic tends to linger, and the honey notes from the beginning seem to fade. Overall, this is a very enjoyable fruit-forward offering. For its price, it's definitely worth considering. While it may not be groundbreaking, it's a nice age with an excellent final touch. Now, I feel compelled to try a Port finish to see how it compares.

This bottle was a gift, and it appears to be a good value for a 14-year-old of this caliber. The aroma is soft and sweet, with notes of berry compote and tangerine, alongside a hint of syrup on freshly varnished wood. You can detect some malt notes in the background if you look for them. The palate is rich and creamy with good depth. Maple candies melted into black raspberry and orange marmalade lead the way. Figs and dates provide support, complemented by leather and oak. Baking spices build throughout the pour. The finish fades the dark fruit, with walnut shells adding a slight bitterness. A subtle touch of peat appears at the end, followed by a lingering maltiness. This expression is superior to the 12-year-old and is highly enjoyable. Its flavors are more subdued and darker than many sherry-finished Scotches, which can be bright. I might prefer GlenDronach 15 in this price range, but this is a strong competitor, especially for fans of Dalmore. It scores 89/100, just shy of a top rating, but worth buying again if priced under $95.

A sophisticated Single Malt crafted by Master Whisky Maker & Blender for a distillery in Highlands, Scotland, aged for two years in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels & Pedro Ximenez casks; subsequently combined and aged for an additional twelve years. It begins aromatically with notes of grain, wood, herbs & spices; a delicate progression adds notes of soft vanilla, toffee, warm honey, dates, fig & Seville orange zest; concluding with a complex, medium-length finish of chocolate orange & maple. November 2022 / October 2023

This particular expression is currently my top choice from its line. It's reasonably priced, full of flavor, and suitable for introducing companions to Highland Scotch. Its aroma is robust, with hints of cinnamon, raisin, and fig. On the palate, it delivers cherry, red grape, apple, and spicy cloves. The finish offers cranberry, butterscotch, and pepper. Furthermore, it displays impressive legs on the glass during a tasting, which is always engaging to observe.