SMWS Tasting Notes: A big and cluttered aroma full of toasted oak, pencil graphite, cluttered workshops full of oily rags and wood shavings. Sawdusty overalls and orange liqueurs (such as aged Cointreau), then herbal jellies, jasmine tea and rosewater. Reduction brings spiced lemon chutney, chai tea, freshly varnished furniture, fir wood and tea tree oil. To taste this one had an initial hit of mint tea infused with liquorice and fennel seed, then paprika, spiced venison salami and boot polish. Some sticky pecan pie stuck in our teeth! Water brought toffee apples, leaf mulch, fruit-scented pipe tobacco, petrichor, eucalyptus bark and spiced rum cocktails. A lovely slick of 1950s Fernet Branca with chocolate sauce. Previously in a bourbon hogshead for five years before being transferred to first fill Spanish oak PX hogshead.
Complex wood shavings on the nose. A touch of rose perfume and leather. Orange and pear upfront which gives in to the wood notes prepped on the nose. Leaves lavender oil in the finish. Overall, an intriguing dram, but just that little bit underwhelming. However, it is offered at a great price for the quality of it. I don’t feel like I can recommend this one in comparison with other Dalmores though, and I certainly know there are better SMWS offerings in this taste profile.
Let customers speak for us
from 177 reviews
Thick and juicy!
Will always love this drop, it’s one of the more syrupy Macallans I’ve tried and definitely smooth and full of flavour!
Nose: A rich herbal aroma intertwined with bonfire smoke, evoking imagery of a seaside campfire. Notes of sea salt, struck matches, and subtle roasted orange peel linger behind the smoky veil.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied with a distinct oily texture. The high proof delivers a robust entry, blending sweet spices with peat, accented by a faint trace of sulfur.
Finish: Long and warming, with persistent ashy smoke and briny sea breeze. Hints of matchstick and a delicate iodine note round it out.
With Water: The aroma reveals pronounced wet sea salt and brine, with the smokiness softening into a rounder profile. Vanilla and oak emerge prominently. On the palate, the sweetness persists, with the peat becoming less intense, giving way to caramelized oak and fruit notes.
A gentle giant. This old grain whisky doesn’t try to shout, but it has plenty to say if you’re listening. A soft, elegant dram with aged sherry cask influence, balancing fruit, leather, oak, and just a whisper of tobacco. If you’re chasing subtle complexity over brute strength, this hits the mark.
A complex aged nose. Leather, dark chocolate mousse, dehydrated raspberries, canned peaches, and fermentation funk. Dark with tropical notes that bring it to life. To taste, mandarin syrup with spices; cloves and cinnamon. There’s an incense smokiness to the dram as well, bringing forward more rose and berry notes. A delightful example of an aged whisky, but potentially one that can be sourced for a slightly cheaper price. Claims of uniqueness can be a touch overrated, but still worth the experience.