Dalmore The Quintet

Nose: Reminiscent of a carton of a specific dark chocolate bar with fruit and nuts, aged in an ex-sherry barrel for about a decade. Raisins, dried figs, fortified wine, marzipan, leather from a vintage Jaguar interior, pipe tobacco, orange zest, mint. A massive nose that brings armagnac to mind. Adding water brings out some orange but dulls the overall experience. There's a distinct sulfur aroma, right on the edge between fragrant, like sandalwood, and unpleasant rubber. Water softens it nicely. Palate: A big, sweet arrival full of chocolate and Christmas cake. It briefly turns astringent during development, but this is just the tannins from significant sherry cask influence. The apparent bitterness quickly fades, leaving a solid, grippy oak base with notes of espresso, muscat, mint, fennel, and cointreau. The texture is superb; this whisky is composed to be correct neat but accepts water well. Similar to the nose, there's a definite sulfur note on the palate, but it's just below an annoying level. Finish: Medium. The palate fades into a sweet conclusion with raspberry jam, licorice, orange marmalade, and chocolate. Formidable. A massive spirit that is exceptionally well-presented. The alcohol by volume is perfect and demonstrates why the notion that all spirits must be bottled at 46% or higher is nonsensical. This one is beautifully balanced, mouthwatering, very moreish, and requires no dilution – it's right as it is, but if you choose to reduce it, you can do so without making it weak. A master of blending. This brand often faces criticism for reasons that appear disingenuous. It's an old-fashioned sherry-forward style of a particular kind, and this is a very good example at a reasonable price. “Very Good”: 85/100 (4 stars)

Finally The Dalmore returned with a Single Malt that truly deserves everyone's attention. The final release of a 2020 travel retail series; this Dalmore The Quintet is a five cask finished whisky, inspired in the King Alexander III (and it is actually better). Finished in Moscatel, Madeira, Tawny Port, Cabernet Sauvignon and Matusalem Sherry, this is an amazingly complex, flavorful dram. Bottled at 44.5%abv, chestnut color. On the nose, it is so good I don't need to drink it; I could spend hours just nosing it. Candied fruits, marzipan, figs, aniseed, blackberries. Dr. Pepper, almonds; wedding cake. After a first sip, it gave me cinnamon, hazelnuts, blueberries and marmalade. It is very cakey/spicy. Dehydrated and red fruits. Incredible. On the palate it is delicious. The most accurate dark wedding cake with raisins I have ever met in a whisky. Cinnamon, cherries, cognac and red fruits. Caramelized apples and Baklava. Aftertaste is also a work of art. Silicone, nuts, red wine, salt and ginger. Brandy and a red fruit marmalade. Very long. Caramelized apples. Overall, this is perfection. A dram to enjoy, and the best part, is that it is not super expensive. Actually cheaper than the King Alexander III, you can get one of the best expressions that Dalmore has made in recent years. My score is a flawless 100 over 100, since no points were deducted in any criteria. Amazing whisky.

Wow, there's a lot happening here. The multiple cask finishes impart a very intricate character to this dram, demanding careful evaluation, which makes it a truly engaging experience. The nose presents dark fruits, sherry, mustiness, dark chocolate, vanilla, and caramel. It's sweet initially, followed by dark berries, plums, apricots, and coconut. The finish is lengthy, slick, full of spices, and slightly bitter. I'm aware it's colored and likely chill-filtered, but does it matter? My wife and her friend enjoyed it - ladies favor this dram too! I strongly believe it would complement a dessert perfectly, especially a holiday one. I truly liked it. I'm pleased with my purchase.

You'll likely find much better assessments than mine for this spirit. Nevertheless, I sampled a $4000 Hennessy Cognac a few weeks ago, and for $3800 less, you can have this Dalmore instead. The highest praise I can offer this five cask Malt is that while this isn't my preferred type of whisky, you'd struggle to find a more approachable dram packed with grape-forward flavors than this one.

Aromas of cherry and sherry. The palate begins with cherry and cake. Sherry notes emerge next, providing good balance. Orange and chocolate drift into the lengthy, pleasant finish. The texture is medium and smooth, akin to a butterscotch candy. It offers excellent value. Grab a bottle if you find one at a duty-free shop!

Quite complex and full-bodied. Sweet aroma followed by a strong alcohol impact with leathery and sweet taste. Short sweet aftertaste.