Dalmore 15 Years Old Cromartie: Lands of Clan MacKenzie 45% 1996

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (87)

Bottled for some kind of charity for some kind of castle up there. Not too sure it’s finished in oloroso as the press release mentions both techniques, finishing and full maturing. Well, it’s probably finished (finessed in Dalmore speak). We also learn that it’s ‘a complex composition of unashamed luxury’. Must be true!

Colour: amber.

Nose: it’s rather a lighter and rather more mineral (in comparison) style. A little more grass, mint, leather and then touches of peonies, chocolate and kumquats. Again, lighter and a notch more elegant than the Cigar Malt in my opinion.

Mouth: definitely more to my liking than the Cigar. More oomph this time, more body, more herbs and liquorice, more spices, more Seville oranges, lemons, ginger, pepper, nutmeg, kumquats (and that feeling of earl grey)… This is pretty excellent!

Finish: long, on pepper, sultanas and marmalade. Peppery aftertaste.

Comments: I find this excellent. Should I have to have only one ‘current’ official bottle of Dalmore, I may select this one (not talking about the GlenWonkish bottlings of course).

Gal Granov (85)

Gal Granov:

Nose: Ripe orange, on top of sherry : sultanas, apricots and some wood varnish. wood and some lemon tart (lemon grass?) as well. Zingy and sweet at the same time with heavier dark chocolate notes too.

Palate: Quite chewy with a lot of spice, pepper and cinnamon. chocolate sprinkled with winter spice, varnish, and some alcoholic tang from the varnish.

Finish : Wood, cinnamon and spices, dark chocolate pralines.

Bottom line:

This is a lovely dram, very rich and quite addictive. As for quality it’s very good.