Dalmore 14 Year Old Scotch Whisky Review

Dalmore is one of the distilleries I constantly find myself going back to as a scotch drinker. This distillery is among the best when it comes to finishing scotch in sherry, port and other casks. Today, we’ll be taking a look at a relatively recent addition to Dalmore’s lineup, namely their 14 year old Pedro Ximenez sherry cask finished expression.

Color

The Dalmore 14 year old is a rich tawny color, perhaps beginning to border on auburn tinges. Attractive and enticing.

Nose

The nose of this whisky is extremely inviting. Dried dark fruits, baking spices and heather show up, backed by perhaps just a hint of vanilla. There’s a faint touch of alcohol heat on the nose, but it’s just enough to provide some body to the other notes. Fantastic balance and a great lead-in to the first sip.

Palate

The first impression I get of the palate is very similar to the nose. Those dried fruits and baking spices, particularly a lovely nutmeg note, combine to remind me of eating a really good holiday fruitcake. The vanilla is far more prominent here, reminding us of how long this whisky has aged. A citrus note that I can best describe as fresh orange zest also joins the party, coming in with a perfect amount of oak spice to complement it. Here and there I get just the slightest inclination of a chocolate covered banana note.

Finish

On the finish, the citrus note fades out, leaving us with a bouquet of oak spice, baking spices and still a hint of those dried fruits. The heather note that showed up on the nose also peaks its head in here, though it’s far from intense. The dark fruit sweetness coats my mouth, reminding me of the aftertaste I might have lingering a while after eating a handful of raisins. The last notes that remain are oak spice and just the faintest hint of vanilla, trailing off slowly after the rest of the party has ended.

Dalmore 14 Year Old Scotch Whisky Review and Closing Thoughts

Flavor

This whisky is a beautiful expression of highland scotch, and I can say I enjoyed it thoroughly. The astute reader will notice that the bottle in the feature picture of this post has already had the majority of its contents drained. That’s because I had this bottle at the holidays, which were the ideal time for drinking this excellent whisky.

Value

At about $90, this bottle is quite reasonably priced for its age. It’s not an outrageous value, but you certainly won’t find yourself sorry for the investment. Looking around at scotch prices these days, I can find any number of bottles of similar age statements that sell for considerably more.

Cigar Pairing Recommendations

This scotch is reasonably versatile, but I’d probably recommend it most with higher-end maduro or oscuro wrapped cigars that feature dark fruit notes of their own. A few ideas here include the Ashton Aged Maduro, Montecristo Espada Oscuro and Padron 1926 blends. The Ashton VSG could also be in play, though its sheer strength will likely bury some of the finer points of the scotch.

Final Verdict

8.5/10

Dalmore 14 Year Old is an exceptional, desert-like scotch that’s practically made for the cold, wintery months. I’ve awarded the whisky an extra half-point for value, as I feel it would be possible to get away with higher prices on this one. If you’re looking for a fantastic nightcap, I would recommend Dalmore 14 without reservation.