Watt Whisky’s first foray over to Dalmunach sees a 22 month Amontillado sherry butt finish employed. Colour me intrigued. 456 bottles were produced at 57.1% ABV – you’ll still find these at The Whisky Exchange for £61.75.
Nose: Opening on cherries, berries and strudel, before expressing flor sherry nuttiness through cashews, hazelnuts and leafy tobacco. Werther’s Originals form a backbone whilst berry pavlova, and vanilla buttercream provide support. Simple and likeable. Reduction offers gingerbread and darker cherry notes alongside a yoghurt/fool creaminess.
Taste: Hedgerow berries and strawberry balsamic sit with cherry cordial, and blackberry coulis (providing some fruity oiliness). Nougat and meringue are joined by vinous qualities which again include tobacco leaf. Water here results in substantial dryness. I wouldn’t. It does however reveal something of the original maturation cask – toffee, vanilla and light notes of char.
Finish. Ah. Lost me now. Quite tight and grippy and all on drying oak and sherry wine tannins.
I know others will enjoy the dry, oak-filled sherry finish of this Dalmunach, but for my palate there’s just too much cask bite at the end of an otherwise very pleasant Amontillado finish.