Dalmore 21 Year

It might surprise you, but Dalmore doesn't regularly bottle 21-year-old whiskies. In fact, in 2015, they released only 8,000 bottles, and they sold out very fast. This is a very elegant expression from this distillery; the decanter has the classic appearance, but the presentation box is huge, haha. Bottled at 42% alcohol by volume, it has a beautiful chestnut color. On the nose, this might be the finest aroma I have ever encountered. "Bellísimo" is the Spanish word for "incredibly beautiful," which is the only way I can describe it. Figs, dates, macerated fruits; Maraschino Cherries, homemade toffee. Amaretto, Creme brulee. The best aroma ever. On the palate, it was a significant disappointment, feeling weak and very watery. Prunes, very smooth. Cherry. There's a red fruitiness. Almonds and a profile reminiscent of bourbon. The aftertaste brought everything back to greatness. Cinnamon. Christmas cake, cinnamon rolls, pepper. Very sophisticated; Spicy and dry. Fantastic stuff. A perfect score, very satisfying. Overall, I truly want to describe this as an outstanding dram, but I can't because the palate, while not bad, wasn't very appealing either. The weakness there was really noticeable, especially when the nose and aftertaste are nearly perfect. A wonderful dram for those who have ample funds; a luxury item for individuals like me who can only experience it once in a lifetime. I believe the aroma might be the best ever, which is a high distinction. My score for this single malt is 92 out of 100, and that's because two of the four evaluation criteria received a perfect score.

This 2015 Release is a complex Single Malt Scotch Whisky created by Richard Paterson for The Dalmore Distillery in the Highlands, Scotland. It was aged for 21 years, initially in American white oak and then for the last decade transferred into first-fill Matusalem oloroso sherry butts made from European oak by the Gonzalez Byass bodega in Jerez de la Frontera. Only 8,000 bottles were produced. It has an aromatic beginning with notes of plum jam, pears with cream, redcurrants, blackberries, black cherry, prune, raisin, tomatoes, sherry, chocolate, coffee, praline, cola, green nut & mint. Its rich & spicy character adds notes of dried fruits, elderberry wine, damson jam, honey, sherry, orange, pomegranate, vanilla, walnut, dark chocolate, dates, syrup, licorice, ginger, cinnamon, orange marmalade, spices, tannins, and cognac sour cherry; leading to a long, spicy & bittersweet conclusion. June 2019 / August 2022

Nose: A sweet fruit medley greets you: apple, candied citrus, plum, a bit of mango. Combined with Dalmore's characteristic vanilla, this creates an exceptional aroma! Taste: An impressive flavor. Apples, honey, vanilla, candied fruits, citrus. It's like a fruitcake in your mouth, perfectly balanced. Its age allows the oak and malt to be subtle. Finish: Fruity and brief, the finish fades slowly, leaving an interesting malt impression. An outstanding bottle!

Absolutely perfect. Without a doubt, the finest whisky I have ever sampled, and likely ever will. So many notes, it's an explosion of flavors and aromas. It's smooth, soft, and round but not at all refined; it's incredibly rich and intense. It's truly baffling how they managed to pack so much flavor into one bottle.

Mellow and quite special.

This expression is fifteen years old.