SMWS L13.11 (Dalmore) 1974 19 Year Old

(Dalmore) 1974 19 Year Old

• Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Scotch Malt Whisky Society

70cl / 59.2%\

I loved the 40yo from two years ago (WF 92), let’s hope this baby will be in the same vein… Colour: amber. Nose: this is much punchier than the Dalmore, less delicately floral and fruity and rather more mineral and even a tad metallic (in a great way). Most interestingly, it smells a bit like some great whisky that would have spent many years in bottles. Develops on marzipan, a little leather, orange zests, old cognac, then whiffs of old wardrobe, unlit cigar, ham, maybe a little cardboard, old wine cellar, soot, aluminium (or mess tin…) I like this nose a lot but the palate might be trickier (with this kind of nose)… SMWS L13.11 (Dalmore) 1974 19 Year Old

Mouth: no, this palate is lovely. Sure it’s not quite as complex as the nose – as almost always with these very old whiskies – but the ‘feeling’ is excellent, rich yet very elegant, beautifully spicy, smoky and earthy, with also these metallic touches once again, mushrooms (morels, yeah, yeah) and then more tropical notes. Mango chutney, bananas flambéed (with rum, obviously), tinned pineapples… There’s also a little beeswax, then more black pepper and chilli… In fact, it’s quite complex on the palate as well! Finish: fairly long, a tad drier now, as always, a little leathery, grassy… And unexpectedly mustardy. Orange zests as well. Comments: great. Same very high quality as the 40yo and no excessive woodiness whatsoever.