Dalmore 16y/o 2006 Lucky Choice & The Auld Alliance 47.6%ABV 30ml

Joint Bottling of Dalmore for East Asia from Lucky Choice and Auld Alliance.

Review from Whisky Fun - Serge Valentin

Dalmore 16 yo 2006/2023 (47.6%, The Auld Alliance & Lucky Choice, oloroso sherry hogshead, cask #7, 146 bottles)    Dalmore 16 yo 2006/2023 (47.6%, The Auld Alliance & Lucky Choice, oloroso sherry hogshead, cask #7, 146 bottles)

There are quite a few independent Dalmores out there from refill wood, which tend to be far less influenced by sherry than the official bottlings, but this one seems to lean much more towards the latter – at least, that’s what the colour would suggest. Colour: amber. Nose: indeed, it’s very ‘OB’ on the nose, almost a tad vinous, with full-on sherry notes, walnut wine, raisins, and polished antique furniture, with a slight hint of old red wine – somewhere between a Pomerol and a Pommard, as they say. Merlot meets mature Pinot Noir. A touch of gunpowder and plenty of chocolate and grey pepper in the background. A certain someone wouldn’t deny its charms. Hello, how are you… Mouth: it feels bolder than just 47%, with plenty of chocolate, pepper, bitter orange, and chestnut honey, then black nougat and marmalade. There’s a thick, yet very elegant mouthfeel. It continues with stuffed dates, marzipan, and just the tiniest hint of sangria, along with a drop of Grand Marnier (the centennial edition, no less!) Finish: very long, creamy, rich, and honeyed, with that signature Dalmore orange lingering. Still a bit of pepper and clove, with a slight medicinal edge. Comments: one wonders if this cask came directly from the distillery. Truly excellent.
SGP: 651 - 89 points.