The Dalmore 12 – Special Single Malt Whisky
The Dalmore 12 is a 12-year-old single malt scotch, a whisky of the highland variety. As with other single malts, Dalmore 12’s alcoholic content hovers between 40% and 50%. The “12” in its name refers to the amount of time the spirit spent aging in barrels. A master distiller has transformed three ingredients, barley, water, and yeast, into something sweet, fruity, and unique.
Notably, Dalmore 12 is a popular single malt that can be found in several bars, duty-free displays in major airports, and liquor stores across the country. Its aroma is fruity, spicy, and malty, with a pronounced orange peel scent. If you spend enough time smelling it, you’ll discover coffee and chocolate notes as well. As you taste the Dalmore 12, you will notice the alcoholic component settles down in the back of your throat. At the forefront, you’ll taste some refreshing fruity flavors with a light citrus burst at the front.
The Making of The Dalmore 12 – Special Single Malt Whisky
On the finish, there is a mild vanilla note and a slight sweetness from the white oak casks, where most of the spirit has matured for over a decade.
Interestingly, the Dalmore Distillery has operated in Scotland for over 180 years. Many of its unique flavors and characteristics are attributed to the mineral-rich Highland water, adding sweet and spicy notes. There is also a great deal of influence on Dalmore’s flavor from its multi-barrel process. The majority of the maturation is done in ex-bourbon barrels, so the whisky will pick up sweet notes from the residual bourbon, as well as some vanilla from the oak.
When the aging process is almost completed, half of the whisky is moved to a sherry cask. Here it absorbs some of the fruity flavors left by the barrel’s previous occupant. During the process, the volume of the liquor decreases due to evaporation and absorption. Due to this, the spirit becomes stronger than what was intended, so water is added to bring it back to the intended 40% or 80 proof strength.