The Dalmore 12 years old, Ans D’age (Bottled 1980s) / 43% / – Dalmore 12 years old has been the distillery flagship for almost four decades. It is a rich and powerful dram perfect to serve after dinner. Dalmore 12 has always been a vatting of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry cask whiskies married in ex-sherry butts prior to bottling. Dalmore Distillery was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson and is currently owned by Whyte & Mackay. In 2014 the Philippine brandy producer, Emperador Inc. purchased the latter for £430 million. We estimate that the bottle presented here dates from the 1980s, when Whyte & Mackay was part of American Brands.
Nose: rich and powerful, pretty strong sherry notes, breakfast cereals, coffee beans, orange zest, figs, almonds, traces of leather, oak and peat.
Palate: rich and complex, malty, bitter orange marmalade, prunes, dried apricots, bitter chocolate, honey, toffee, hazelnuts, hints of peat and pipe tobacco.
Finish: long and nutty, orange zest, dried apricots, dark chocolate, honey and fading hints of peat.