Dalmore Gran Reserva

Happy New Year 2021 to all! I was holding onto this bottle for a significant occasion and opted for New Year's Eve to conclude a challenging 2020 with a pleasant drink. Dalmore Gran Reserva emerged when the original and celebrated Dalmore Cigar Malt was phased out around 2009 due to anti-smoking initiatives. It was supplanted by this version, which was only offered for two years before being replaced by the Cigar Malt Reserve. The bottle itself is quite attractive, featuring all the Dalmore emblems, including the stag, rendered in earthy tones. It was aged in bourbon barrels and sherry casks. It's bottled at 40% ABV and presents a deep copper hue. The aroma is truly magnificent. It offers the most delightful caramelized oranges, an elegant blend of vanilla and tobacco, with notes of dates and figs emerging. Amazing butterscotch hard candy, very rich. There's also chocolate fudge. Absolutely beautiful. Following the initial taste, it becomes fruitier, with exotic notes of acidic prunes and fudge; brownies. Very refined. Even the lingering scent in the empty glass is remarkable. A perfect score. The palate is pleasing, though it doesn't fully meet the expectations set by the nose. There's a hint of tobacco bitterness and orange, with a slight roughness. A second taste revealed vanilla and a bittersweet mix of oranges and tobacco. Quite enjoyable. Chocolate notes are present. The finish is very satisfying. I was genuinely surprised by its acidity and bitterness. It has notes of prunes, an acidic sensation on the palate, and a dry, aged, humid wood character. A pleasant sensation, despite being direct. A dry, cinnamon finish. Ultimately, I consider this a superb whisky. I grasp the acidic and bitter elements, as this expression is intended to be paired with a cigar. While I don't smoke, I completely understand this flavor profile. My rating for it is a solid 93 out of 100; it's a fine whisky.

It's been about a year or longer since I last tasted this. I don't recall it being the best Dalmore I'd sampled. If my memory serves, it was a touch too sweet for my preference.

The aroma offers sweet malt and bread, with some citrus. The palate is creamy toffee with a glycerol texture. The medium finish has notes of chocolate and cedar.

Experience from a Scotch tasting at a specific location.

Wedding event.