Dalmore Custodian Malt

Dalmore Custodian Malt price

• Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Distillery Bottling

70cl / 52%

The 2018 edition of Dalmore’s Custodian Malt Millenium Release has been matured in a sherry butt since January 1st 2000. Aromas of caramelised tangerines, Christmas cake and cinnamon fill the nose, complemented by notes of bitter chocolate, coffee and treacle on the palate. Liquorice, Turkish delight and maple syrup flavours linger in the finish.

This new Dalmore was bottled to celebrate Richard Paterson’s 50th year in the industry. It’s not cheap (7,000€) but it’s as much in Baccarat as Macallan is in Lalique, and you could always present your old auntie Theresa with the decanter once it’s empty. And hey, it’s got an age statement, and it was matured in ex-Bourbon casks for 30 years, before spending 7 years in Sherry butts and then 3 years in first-fill Bourbon barrels. That’s a lot of costly handling! Colour: rich amber. Dalmore Custodian Malt

Nose: a lot of butterscotch and bonfire toffee at first, with less freshness than in the 25, and then surprising notes of ‘dark’ rum, molasses, and wood varnish, followed with quite some pine resin and thuja wood. Perhaps two drops of turpentine. Mouth: starts fresher this time, with the usual oranges and marmalade, then we have drops of Cointreau and raspberry liqueur, then strong herbs, making it almost Jaegermeistery (I know, I know). Rather bittersweet. Finish: medium, on speculoos and bitter coffee, with pepper, caraway, cloves, Seville oranges and sour apples in the aftertaste. Comments: I like this one a lot as well, naturally, but I’m not totally fond of its rather heavy woodiness on the palate.