Dalmore The Trio

A 1L travel exclusive bottle acquired on sale for 50 euros, a truly excellent price for Dalmore, particularly since it typically retails between 85-140 euros. The spirit is aged in ex-bourbon, tawny port, and matusalem sherry casks, a common combination for premium Dalmore expressions. It has a deep amber-orange hue, quite dark, likely due to old sherry casks and added coloring, exhibiting long legs and an oily texture in the glass. Nose: remarkably potent, aromatic, and multifaceted, especially for a 40% ABV. It's incredibly smooth, with notes of sweetness, fruit (both fresh and dried), malt, nuts, wood, orange, and honey, plus a touch of vanilla. Palate: offers a balanced, nutty-malty spice at the forefront, transitioning to a very sweet and fruity-orangey mid-palate. It's highly accessible and smooth, with hardly any perceptible alcohol. With further sipping, a pleasant, gentle warmth from spice emerges. Finish: medium in length, with an oily sensation, hints of tangerines, apricots, sweetness, and a metallic undertone at the back. After aeration, a subtle bitterness of orange peel and dark chocolate appears, preceded by a faint aroma of milk chocolate. It's very enjoyable and approachable. At 33 euros per 700ml (50 euros per 1L), the cost is more than justified for this brand and whisky, feeling like an absolute bargain (despite its negative reception). Frankly, its flavor profile on the mid-palate, especially the strong nutty maltiness, bears a strong resemblance to Chivas Regal 18. Rating System: 5.0 - Perfect 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB

What went on here? The Dalmore The Trio is one of three retail bottlings; the other two are called The Quartet and The Quintet, and as you can infer, this indicates the number of different cask finishes this single malt has undergone. The Quintet was unbelievably fantastic, and the Quartet was also amazing, but this Trio bottling... was not very good. I sampled it at a friend's place and couldn't believe how poor it was (I actually thought to myself: "perhaps I'm not properly focused to evaluate this whisky"), so I returned home and opened my own bottle and... it was even worse than I had anticipated. Bottled at 40% ABV, this one has been aged in ex-bourbon, tawny port casks, and Matusalem Sherry. Deep copper color. On the nose, coffee and sawdust when opened. A little dampness and old library scent notes. Mostly old, very dried-out fruits. Dried oranges. Red fruits, strawberries. Very wine-like. Caramel, grenadine, and some citrus notes. Figs. After the first sip, it released ginger and a very thick vanilla fondant. Dusty. Powdery. Acidic prunes that have gone bad. It felt pleasant, but muted, not incredible. On the palate, it is very thin. A little watery. It resembles red fruit water. Sawdust. A second sip felt like vanilla water. Acidic Prunes. Uninteresting. Aftertaste gave me sawdust, woody notes. Ginger; a short finish. Everything is so excessively oaked that all other flavors are masked. Disappointing. Overall, this is a very thin, weak, simple, overly woody Dalmore. None of the incredible notes found in almost every other bottling are present here. Totally disappointing; I am glad I had the two more expensive bottlings first, because if I had sampled this one earlier, I might not have bought the Quartet and the Quintet. Not good; my rating for it is 70 out of 100.

Smell: Citrus oil and juice, mellow woody scents like sandalwood and camphorwood, along with honey, fruitcake, and almonds. It's quite pleasing and characteristic of a Dalmore aroma. Taste: A sweet initial impression akin to watered-down honey with a citrus hint. Not much evolution occurs; there are some malty grains and a whisper of coffee. The feel is agreeable, but it lacks substance. The taste doesn't quite meet the expectations set by the smell. Aftertaste: Lasts a medium to short time. Faint fruity notes (orange, apricot) fade into weak mocha coffee, Demerara sugar, and a slightly metallic, leafy bitterness. Overall, it's an enjoyable whisky, but the palate is notably deficient in presence. Alcohol percentage isn't a crucial factor for me in whisky. I don't fault spirits bottled at 40% without good cause, but this particular one is in an odd position. Its standard alcohol level makes it very accessible, suitable for sharing with someone new to whisky. However, this same low alcohol content renders it bland and without body. This spirit would have truly benefited from being bottled at 46% or higher to express itself more clearly. While I did appreciate the dram, I can only categorize it as average. There are significantly better Dalmore options available. Consider the Cigar Malt or the consistently pleasing 18 year old for comparison. Tasted from a 30ml sample. “Average”: 78/100 (2.75 stars)

Appealing nose with red berries, wood varnish, tobacco, nutty notes, wood, and spice. Rather peppery and sharp with a hint of roughness. On the palate, delightful dark fruit jam, toffee, spice, and coffee flavors are present.

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, oak, orange, plums Palate: Orange, plums, cinnamon Finish: Oak, vanilla, caramel, spices A respectable whiskey. A bit lacking in body due to its 40% ABV, but still good.

Pleasant sweet orange scent and a delightful sweet, buttery finish. Highly enjoyable!