Whisky review : The Dalmore 12 years old bottled @ 40%

Whisky review : The Dalmore 12 years old bottled @ 40%

-1st Dalmore, but 2nd Whyte and Mackay !
-Decent price
-Beware as there are lot of variation in Dalmore's quality (the casks)

Colour: copper, very dark malt. I'm not sure the colour is only caramel here, might be sherry influence as well. It draws long legs in the glass, looks thick.

Nose: Raw sugar, hot brown sugar sugary note, definitely a highland nose, close to some of the Glend's single malt or even some older blends. Dried Sultana, distant, but still present vanilla milk-chocolate (on 2nd try).

Mouth: first arrival, very thick and oily, sherry, then quickly changes to malt, the bourbon cask can also be felt, especially on the tip of the tongue. Very sweet tingly notes mixed with spices from the Sherry. With Water, it opens to a more soft and gentle malt, sweet grapes, the kind of grapes you would find on a vanilla-grape sablé.As time goes by, it sits down...and reveals more of the bourbon influence. Becomes more vanilla-sweet and adds some sherry elements to it. This whisky deserves time and water...patience....

Finish: The first time I was left with some kind of old dried sultana mashed on the tarmac kinda flavour...Sticky acidic sweetness lingering....But on 2nd try, I'm more a sweet eucalyptus, waxy grapes, sugary notes. Not unpleasant at all.


B++ for the taste. But with water. it finds it rhythm only after a dash of water. I'd say it's a nice sipping whisky.
B for the price. I would say that 45-50$ would be a price point.
A for presentation, The Deer looks very serious....