Dalmore 13 Year (SMWS 13.89 "Amped-Up!")

 

Fourth (and most popular) sample from the September 2022 outturn of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS") at the Jack Rose Saloon here in Washington DC. The moment this stuff was put in front of people and the scenting began, there was a slight hush over the room and a chorus of "ooooh" and "hmmmm" and "ahhhh" - a lovely nose indeed. 

Here are the official notes: 

Have you ever met a person in a cowboy’s tasselled jacket wearing a fragrance of cedarwood, leather accord and tobacco lifted by a hint of grapefruit? On the palate plenty of leather, red wine and tobacco entwined with cocoa nibs, cinnamon raisin bagels and blackberry brownies. Diluted cranberry orange granola bars made from oats, honey, nuts, dried cranberries and orange zest. Deliciously soft and chewy like toffee, Jaffa cakes, chocolate cherry fondant candies and a seemingly never-ending finish of roasted figs with pomegranate molasses and orange zest. After eleven years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this whisky into a 1st fill charred with toasted heads, wine barrique.

Interesting, the wine barrique with the toasted heads - quite uncommon. Bottled at 57% ABV, let's figure out all the Ooohs and Ahhhs on this one:

Nose: A lovely nose: Thick dollops of honey, red wine astringency, very very light smoke, butterscotch, and leather jackets. Dry, airy, spreads out into the air well - quite fragrant. 

Mouthfeel: Sticks to the sides of your mouth, medium body. 

Palate: Dry - dust, red wine tannins and grape must, light smoke. Something dark and bready - almost like sourdough. Chocolate, after you add some water. But mostly dry and full of that wine finish.  

Finish: My notes specifically say "dry as an old rag," with grapes and oak along for the ride. 

Verdict: I enjoyed this - it's already sold out on the website - but I didn't feel the need to pick it up myself. Easily the most unusual offering of the outturn, and uncommon for Dalmore, but very enjoyable - the red wine cask with the toasted heads must have been quite good quality, because it really shines through here in a nice, airy, transparent way. The core spirit from the bourbon hogshead must have been quite dry and rather faintly sweet before the barrique kicked in. Interesting stuff.