Dalmore Port Wood Reserve - 46.5%

From the Dalmore website

The Dalmore Port Wood Reserve showcases our whisky makers' artistry and their passion for innovation, skillfully marrying The Dalmore’s rich Highland style with the opulent character of Port pipes. This whisky is a celebration our long-standing relationship with Graham's Port Lodge in Portugal, one of the world's great wineries.

Tasting notes

Appearance: Amber gold with a hint of pink, forms a thin line which falls slowly as thick, oily legs

Nose: Red berried fruits, mandarin oranges, icing sugar sweetness, Medjool dates 

Palate: Sweet, strawberry laces, candied orange peel, stoned fruit, soft caramel and touch of mocha coffee

Finish: Slightly drying with more of that artificial red fruit sweetness, dried fruits, orange peel and a touch of cracked black pepper heat.

Overall: This is a whisky very much on the sweeter side of the spectrum, although thankfully not as much as the nose initially promised. The problem for me isn’t the sweetness itself, but that it feels like a synthetic sweetness.

Some of my favourite whiskies have been Port wood finishes, but sadly this isn’t one of them. However, as always, this is just my personal opinion, everyone’s palate and preferences are different so I’ve no doubt there will be plenty who really enjoy it. Current price is a little over £80, less expensive than many Dalmore bottlings but, for me anyway, a little on the high side.

If you would like more information on this whisky, or the Dalmore Distillery, follow the link to the company website.

Transparency: Received free of charge for independent review, all opinions are my own and remain completely impartial.