Dalmore Rivers Collection 2011 | Whisky Tastings
This is a special one, tonight we have two of our regular tasters and one new taster to our table, and what a range of drams we have for tonight.
We are tasting the full Dalmore Rivers Collection 2011, if you check out the website below you can find out many a thing about this grand old Distillery including the full range of drams the produce.
The Dalmore Distillery
Alness
Ross-shire, Scotland
IV17 0UT
Owners… Whyte & Mackay
telephone 01349 882 362
website www.thedalmore.com
Opening Hours:
April to October
Monday to Friday: 11.00am to 5.00pm
November to March
Monday to Friday: 11.00am to 3.00pm
This grand Distillery can be found on the north shore of the Firth of Cromarty, set in the scenic Scottish Highlands. High in the hills overlooking Dalmore is Loch Morie, where they take the water to make these extra special drams. The Dalmore Distillery has been producing outstanding Single Malt Whisky since 1839.
The Rivers Collection is a set of four Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskies created by Richard Paterson (if you ‘search’ on our site for Richard Paterson you will come across a few articles which relate to this Master Blender) each dram reflects one of Scotland’s famous salmon rivers, Dalmore will be giving a generous donation from each sale of these bottles to the conservation and preservation of these outstanding rivers.
Lets do a little tasting.
Our guest tasters tonight are :-
Robert Heeps – a regular at our tasting table.
Reg Aulds – also a regular at our tasting table.
Colin Wilkinson – our newest taster, married to Fiona for the past 30 years, has two sons one daughter-in-law and two Scottie dogs. favourite pastimes are hill-walking and was a former member of the SMWS.
With all the introductions done lets get tasting.
First up tonight is :-
Dalmore Spey Dram – Rivers Collection, Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% Alc/vol 70cl, Matured in Ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Casks
Colour…Burnt marmalade
Nicola’s Tasting
Nose…Raisins soaked overnight, ready for a fruit loaf.
Taste…Dark chocolate with toffee pieces and Seville oranges, singed with burnt oaky notes.
Finish…Long sticky toffee.
Score…3.5 Corks
Colin’s Tasting
Nose…Sweet clean and fruity.
Taste…Without water, burnt toffee and Christmas mince meat pies. With water, caramel and mixed fruit.
Finish…Moreish.
Score…3.5 Corks
Robert’s Tasting
Nose…Just a big invitation to sip gently.
Taste…Sweet to the palate, lovely aftertaste, ever so easy to drink.
Finish…Long with caramel.
Score…4 Corks
Reg’s Tasting
Nose…Ultra mellow to the nose.
Taste…Slightly sweet with a hint of vanilla.
Finish…Very fresh and long.
Score…3.5 Corks
Jim’s Tasting
Nose…Spice and a lot of citrus notes, the sherry comes in.
Taste…First is the Christmas cake, then its the turn of the chocolate orange.
Finish…Medium to long finish, with some Bourneville chocolate and treacle.
Score…3.5 Corks
Well that is the first of the four tasted and a grand dram it is, agreed by all at the table, every one now wanted to have the second bottle opened, and without much ado we did so.
Dalmore Tay Dram – Rivers Collection, Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% Alc/vol 70cl, Matured in Ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Casks
Colour…Deep brown amber
Nicola’s tasting
Nose…Green leaves/foliage and some citrus notes.
Taste…Fresh menthol taste with fresh coffee and bitter citrus notes.
Finish…Long, clean ad fresh.
Score…3 Corks
Colin’s tasting
Nose…Warm, cosy – cotton woolly.
Taste…Rich and warm, hints of chocolate.
Finish…Stays in the mouth for a long time – with a “liquorice pipe” on the tongue.
Score…3.5 Corks
Robert’s tasting
Nose…Powerful.
Taste…Intense, lovely sweet chocolate.
Finish…Lingering and lovely.
Score…4 Corks
Reg’s tasting
Nose…Rich and warming.
Taste…Hint of vanilla, warming with the spice.
Finish…Warming and spicy, just great.
Score…3.5 Corks
Jim’s tasting
Nose…Sherry with lemon cake, a wee spice note is there.
Taste…Fruit cake by the shop full, ultra smooth with pears, fresh cranberries, honey and vanilla.
Finish…Medium to long finish with Cadbury’s fudge.
Score…3.5 Corks
Two down and two to go, so far this is a fabulous tasting with all tasters enjoying this grand collection.
Dalmore Tweed Dram – Rivers Collection, Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% Alc/vol 70cl, Matured in Ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Casks
Colour…Rich gold
Nicola’s tasting
Nose…Caramel cup with cherry lip sweets.
Taste…Sweet preserves, still with hints of sweet caramel, a bit of spice has been introduced.
Finish…Medium, but with a delicious aftertaste.
Score…4 Corks
Colin’s tasting
Nose…Crisp fruit with hints of almonds.
Taste…Cherry coke, marzipan and almonds.
Finish…Very easy to sip with taste lingering on and on.
Score..3 Corks
Robert’s tasting
Nose…Loads and loads of fruit.
Taste…Simple, fresh spicy marmalade.
Finish…So easy on the palate, a delight.
Score…3.5 Corks
Reg’s tasting
Nose…Very fruity, similar to the Tay Dram.
Taste…Very smooth, caramel and oranges.
Finish..Glorious finish, demands you have another one.
Score…3.5 Corks
Jim’s tasting
Nose…Pears, a little sherry coming in toffee oranges.
Taste…Quite complex, sultanas, a fair bit of spice hits you a full and rich taste.
Finish…Short to medium finish. drying and the spice still tingles.
Score…3.5 Corks
Again no one was disappointed with this dram , all three have been a delight and we now move on to our fourth ad final River.
Dalmore Dee Dram – Rivers Collection, Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% Alc/vol 70cl, Matured in Ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Casks
Colour…Sun golden glow
Nicola’s tasting
Nose…Starbucks mocha chino with sprinkled dark chocolate shavings.
Taste…Chocolate and coffee still strong but black jacks coming in.
Finish…Short to medium finish. Sweet and dark.
Score…4 Corks
Colin’s tasting
Nose…No burn on the nose, coffee and dark chocolate.
Taste…Sweet, liquor style, rich rich cake.
Finish…Smooth sweet and lingering.
Score…4 Corks
Robert’s tasting
Nose…Deep and sensual.
Taste…Rich dessert chocolate, stunning.
Finish…So so smooth.
Score…4 Corks
Reg’s tasting
Nose…Fruit and vanilla, really pleasant.
Taste…Very rich, loads of fruit, a wee bit of dark chocolate.
Finish…Smooth and lingering, my favourite of the four rivers.
Score…4 Corks
Jim’s tasting
Nose…Citrus flavours, malty a wee tad complex.
Taste…A lot is happening in here, spicy dried fruit with some forest berries, coffee and liquorice covered in dark chocolate, just outstanding.
Finish…Medium to long finish, a little woodiness, the dark chocolate stays behind.
Score…4 Corks
Magnificent, the only word we could all give this River Collection, well done Richard Paterson and all at Dalmore Distillery. For all our readers we strongly recommend that you taste all of these fine drams, our overall favourite was the Dee Dram.
These drams are on sale on-line and can be purchased by using the shop window below, they cost around the £40.00 mark each, not too high a price for the flavours and quality you receive in turn. These will become a regular lodger in the Whisky Boys cabinets.
Finally the Whisky Boys would like to give a BIG THANKS to Robert Heeps who supplied tonight’s bottles for this exceptional tasting.