The Dalmore – 12 Years (70cl)

The Dalmore 12 Years is a Highland single malt from the distillery at Alness, in a 70cl bottle. Its emblem is a stag, taken from the crest of the Mackenzie family, long-time owners of the distillery. The whisky spends its first nine years in American oak ex-bourbon casks. It is then divided: half stays in the bourbon casks and half moves to ex-Matusalem Oloroso sherry casks. After three more years the two parts are married and bottled. The nose offers coffee, butter, candied citrus peel and dark chocolate. The palate is powerful and spicy, with vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon and toasted hazelnuts.