“Dust in the Wind”
Whisky Review # 1004
Country: Scotland 🏴
Region: Northern Highlands
Brand: Dalmore The Trio
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with finish in a mix of First-Fill Ex-Bourbons casks, Aged (10Y) Tawny Port pipes and 30-year old Matusalem Sherry casks.
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 75-85 (January 2024)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with finish in a mix of First-Fill Ex-Bourbons casks, Aged (10Y) Tawny Port pipes and 30-year old Matusalem Sherry casks.
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 75-85 (January 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 A bit too expensive if you ask me despite nice presentation
Buying Advice: 👎 Better stay with the regular 12 Years or 15 Years
Colour:
Chestnut with shades of Orange (Artificially Coloured)
Nose:
The Port pipes and Sherry casks are quite present. There is Sulphur around so make sure to give this Dalmore some time in the glass before Nosing. The Nose is driven by Dark Berries, Orange and Dried Fruit. It presents Sweet and Sour notes but does smell a bit Musty & Dusty. Not too bad though!
Main Aromas:
Malted Barley, Buttered Toast, Caramel, Yeast, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Apricots, Prunes and Figs, (Dark) Red Berries and Cherries, Seville Orange, Dried Herbs, Cinnamon and Mint.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Toffee, Vanilla, Straw, Mixed Nuts, Plum Jam, Cranberry Juice, slightly Sour Red Wine, Wet Leaves and Paper, Brown Sugar, Nutmeg and Polished Oak.
Palate:
Too Thin & a little Hot. A mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes that are in line with the Nose. Quite Dry.
Main Flavours:
Toasted Grain, Caramel, Brown Sugar, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Figs and Plums, Seville-Orange, Dark Berries and Cherries, Espresso, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Menthol, Polished Oak and Leather.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Toffee, Vanilla, Honey, Straw, Lemon, Grapefruit, Nuts, Bitter Chocolate, Licorice, Wet Leaves, Cardamom and Ginger.
Finish:
Medium-Long with Sweet and Sour notes and a slight Bitterness towards the Dry end. It's on the Thin side though. I find Toasted Grain, Caramel, Toffee, Vanilla, Straw, Dried Herbs, Dried Fruit like Sultanas & Prunes, Dark Berries & Cherries, Seville-Orange, slightly Sour Red Wine, Dark Chocolate, Espresso, Mixed Nuts, Wet Leaves, Dusty Road, Polished Oak, Licorice, Menthol, Pepper, Cloves, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cardamom & Ginger. Slightly Hot after a while.
Drinking Advice:
Drinking Experience:
Okay/Good
Conclusion:
The Dalmore distillery is located close to Alness and was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson. It is owned by Whyte & Mackay Ltd, part of Emperador Inc. During the last 15 years or so, Master Blender Richard Patterson did a lot to reposition Dalmore as a worldwide Single Malt. The distillery currently produces around 4 million litres but is increasing the capacity to 9 million litres. Everything should be ready by August this year. The core range exists of the 12, 12 Sherry Cask Select, 15, 18, 21, 25, King Alexander III, Cigar Malt Reserve and Port Wood Reserve. The current Travel Retail range introduced in 2019 includes The Trio, The Quartet and The Quintet.
Why is it that I'm having a hard time in connecting with some distilleries. Jura is one of them and Dalmore is an other. Dalmore certainly presents their products in a nice and distinctive way. But usually I find the whisky dull and dusty. Dust in the Wind is a perfect song to describe my feelings about The Trio. It's not really bad but it's forgotten within minutes after you have finished your dram. There are a few obvious flaws to mention as well. Too much added Caramel and an ABV of 40% that does not do justice to any Whisky and leaves this Trio with a very Thin profile. As written above the distillery is expanding and will become one of the 10 largest distilleries in Scotland. I do hope that quantity is not the only way forward for Dalmore though. In the meantime I will continue my quest to find a Dalmore that really satisfies me!
Colour:
Chestnut with shades of Orange (Artificially Coloured)
Nose:
The Port pipes and Sherry casks are quite present. There is Sulphur around so make sure to give this Dalmore some time in the glass before Nosing. The Nose is driven by Dark Berries, Orange and Dried Fruit. It presents Sweet and Sour notes but does smell a bit Musty & Dusty. Not too bad though!
Main Aromas:
Malted Barley, Buttered Toast, Caramel, Yeast, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Apricots, Prunes and Figs, (Dark) Red Berries and Cherries, Seville Orange, Dried Herbs, Cinnamon and Mint.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Toffee, Vanilla, Straw, Mixed Nuts, Plum Jam, Cranberry Juice, slightly Sour Red Wine, Wet Leaves and Paper, Brown Sugar, Nutmeg and Polished Oak.
Too Thin & a little Hot. A mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes that are in line with the Nose. Quite Dry.
Main Flavours:
Toasted Grain, Caramel, Brown Sugar, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Figs and Plums, Seville-Orange, Dark Berries and Cherries, Espresso, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Menthol, Polished Oak and Leather.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Toffee, Vanilla, Honey, Straw, Lemon, Grapefruit, Nuts, Bitter Chocolate, Licorice, Wet Leaves, Cardamom and Ginger.
Finish:
Medium-Long with Sweet and Sour notes and a slight Bitterness towards the Dry end. It's on the Thin side though. I find Toasted Grain, Caramel, Toffee, Vanilla, Straw, Dried Herbs, Dried Fruit like Sultanas & Prunes, Dark Berries & Cherries, Seville-Orange, slightly Sour Red Wine, Dark Chocolate, Espresso, Mixed Nuts, Wet Leaves, Dusty Road, Polished Oak, Licorice, Menthol, Pepper, Cloves, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cardamom & Ginger. Slightly Hot after a while.
Drinking Advice:
The Trio does not improve with added Water although it takes away a bit of the Heat. Since I got a full bottle as a gift I also tried it on the Rocks and that was quite okay.
Rating: 7 (*******)
Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Okay/Good
Conclusion:
The Dalmore distillery is located close to Alness and was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson. It is owned by Whyte & Mackay Ltd, part of Emperador Inc. During the last 15 years or so, Master Blender Richard Patterson did a lot to reposition Dalmore as a worldwide Single Malt. The distillery currently produces around 4 million litres but is increasing the capacity to 9 million litres. Everything should be ready by August this year. The core range exists of the 12, 12 Sherry Cask Select, 15, 18, 21, 25, King Alexander III, Cigar Malt Reserve and Port Wood Reserve. The current Travel Retail range introduced in 2019 includes The Trio, The Quartet and The Quintet.
Why is it that I'm having a hard time in connecting with some distilleries. Jura is one of them and Dalmore is an other. Dalmore certainly presents their products in a nice and distinctive way. But usually I find the whisky dull and dusty. Dust in the Wind is a perfect song to describe my feelings about The Trio. It's not really bad but it's forgotten within minutes after you have finished your dram. There are a few obvious flaws to mention as well. Too much added Caramel and an ABV of 40% that does not do justice to any Whisky and leaves this Trio with a very Thin profile. As written above the distillery is expanding and will become one of the 10 largest distilleries in Scotland. I do hope that quantity is not the only way forward for Dalmore though. In the meantime I will continue my quest to find a Dalmore that really satisfies me!
Cheers! Jan. 🥃
Jan van den Ende January 9, 2024
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