Dalmore King Alexander III

I've eagerly anticipated tasting this renowned whisky. Is it good? It's wonderful. Is it what I envisioned... perhaps not. Let's explore why it's so enigmatic. It was aged in six distinct casks with six wood finishes: Matusalem Oloroso, Port pipes, Marsala, Madeira, Cabernet Sauvignon, and American White Oak. Bottled at 40% ABV, it displays a lovely mahogany color. The aroma is exceptional. Simply beautiful. Berries. Jam. Nutmeg. Wedding cake. Dark cake. There's a citrus note present. Red fruits. Cold red fruits (winter berries). It's precisely like a cold-pressed antioxidant juice sold here in Ecuador called "D'hoy frutos rojos." The palate is where I expected more. I truly hoped it would astound me but found it rather straightforward, somewhat mirroring the aroma while losing some of its complexity. It's still a great and intriguing dram. It possesses that characteristic Dalmore wood flavor. There's a sweet yet woody taste. Peppermint. It strongly reminded me of Glenfiddich 21yo Winter Storm, particularly the aroma. I feel it's a bit too direct and lacks significant complexity. The aftertaste is everlasting. Full ginger spiciness. Incredible. My current rating is 95 out of 100, based on: Aroma 25/25 Palate 22/25 Finish 25/25 Balance 23/25. Perhaps I'm being overly critical because my expectations were so high. It's a magnificent dram, and I believe it's worth the $150-170 price tag. You should definitely try it; for me, Cigar Malt is slightly superior. It doesn't present as an aged dram, and I don't think the six wood finishes fully come through, but as I mentioned, it's a superb whisky. Cheers!

After an extensive hunt for this spirit, I finally secured a sample. Typically, I wouldn't be drawn to this malt: no age statement, only 40% ABV, colored, and chill-filtered. However, its distinctive character (from 6 distinct casks) piques the curiosity of even the most hesitant individual... Nose - The aroma presents an exceptionally broad spectrum of scents I've not encountered in a single dram before. It includes notes of garlic butter, grass, ginger, sherry, hay, compost (less unpleasant than it sounds), leather, tobacco, honey, red fruits, toffee, caramel, tiramisu, and vanilla ice cream. Palate - Sweet. Extremely sweet. Very sugary, syrupy, and coats the mouth. It's comparable to a sweet coffee liqueur, but in whisky form. I'm a fan, though it's certainly not for everyone. Finish - The sweetness from the palate persists into the finish, with prominent notes of white chocolate, malt, sherry, banana, and coconut. There's a slight funk I'm unaccustomed to. I find it delightful. It's a true dessert whisky that I intend to add to my collection eventually. The price is unfortunately quite high, but you're paying for the uniqueness of this spirit and for a wide range of (presumably) quality casks. "Excellent": 4 stars | Truly quite remarkable.

Delicate and sweet on the nose. Not an appealing aroma. First sip: I'm getting a strong impression of chlorine. It genuinely tastes like I'm relaxing in an over-chlorinated hot tub. It's also thin. So thin, it's almost thirst-quenching. Sip 2: Alright, this is a genuinely peculiar drink. So easy to drink it barely registers as whisky. I'm undecided if it's impressively palatable or remarkably strange. So thin, yet so smooth and drinkable. I detected more lemon and citrus notes this time. I had my wife try it and in her words, "I love it. Really, really light, and feels good inside". Third sip: I'm still conflicted. While it's not my preferred scotch, I was still drawn to finish it. I could think of several friends I'd enjoy sharing this with.

A profound aroma of dark fruits with suggestions of date nut bread and a whisper of rose. The initial taste is sweet and herbal, leading into powerful spice. Subsequently, cooked fruits, syrupy plums, Medjool dates in syrup, ginger, cassia bark, a significant amount of cayenne, heavily toasted bourbon barrels, and a grape-like scent emerge. The texture is smooth and luxurious, with respectable viscosity considering the lower alcohol content. The conclusion is extended, evoking barrel-aged fortified wines. A trace of mint, perhaps oregano, persistent sweet cooked fruit, but also some acidity akin to balsamic reduction, a chocolate hazelnut paste, a subtle note of bitter orange, and finally, scorched oak that persists briefly. Nose: 8 Taste: 9 Body: 8 Finish: 9

At some point in my exploration of whisky, I've had a drink or two of this brand, but I'm quite certain I've never owned a bottle. Thanks to the incredible generosity of a friend, I was able to try a sample of this offering. There's no question this is a pleasant and drinkable whisky, but the 40% ABV makes it somewhat thin, and I can't recall any truly memorable tasting notes. A quick online search reveals a striking price tag in the $240 range. If this bottle were $70, I'd still opt for other specific whiskies over this any day of the week. Thanks again to my friend for sending over a taste I likely would have never tried otherwise.

I appreciate the way certain distillers approach cask finishes... There's a lot happening with this dram, perhaps to its detriment?? Considering its retail price, it doesn't seem to justify the cost. Their description mentions: Six distinct cask finishes are expertly blended to create a singular whisky with a rich and captivating flavor profile. This particular whisky is finished in Kentucky bourbon casks, Jerez Oloroso, Sicilian Marsala, Douro valley port, and Cabernet sauvignon. Sounds fantastic. The nose, palate, and finish are smooth but don't align with my preferred flavor profile. Not memorable.