It’s a day to dig into the tasting notes archive, and this time – Dalmore 15.

It’s a very popular Dalmore expression (along with the younger sibling Dalmore 12) and I had the chance to taste it for the first time few months ago.

The Dalmore 15 year is aged for 13 years in American oak ex-bourbon casks. It is then matured additional 2 years in different sherry casks. although matured for only 2 years in sherry casks, it does uses 3 different sherry casks (Amoroso, Matusalem and Apostoles).

Dalmore 15 (OB, 40%, buy here for £48.45)

Nose: Heavy sweet sherry notes, sweet raisins, candied fruits, sweet oranges concentrate, milk chocolate and cocoa, meaty and thick. almost over-sweet but not passing the threshold.

Palate: Sherry and oranges attack at first, honey, sweet caramel, mouth coating spices led by cinnamon and ends with blood oranges.

Finish: Medium long. Spices and sweet (but less then on nose), dry orange peels. slight grass and herbal notes.

Conclusion: Well, it’s a nice solid dram with lovely taste and smell which I can sit down a sip leisurely but I feel like this one tries very hard to please you, even trying too hard so. Don’t get me wrong – It’s a solid base Dalmore, but it feels over-manufactured. They can do better.