Dalmore 1973 Constellation Collection

The Dalmore Constellation Vintage 1973 is an impressive 38 years old. It matured for 32 long years on American oak, then three years on French Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks and a final 3 years on small batch bourbon casks from Kentucky.

This nose really smells like wood. Planks, freshly sawn. The wine gives it a nice touch of red and black fruit. Berries of every kind. Loads of vanilla and coconut as well. Wonderfully spicy on ginger and some pepper. Nice nose, but it does not come close to that of the 1992 or 1980.

It is wonderfully creamy on the palate. Almost syrupy, in fact. Very sweet, but also feisty. Good continuation of the nose, but then it turns slightly bitter and dry. Is the bourbon or the wine cask responsible? That is anybody’s guess.

Medium to long finish on spices and red wine – the tannins are just a tad too loud to my taste.

Wonderful Dalmore, do not get me wrong, but my least favorite of the series (I should say of the four that I tasted in this series). A bottle will set you back around 12.000 EUR – a small car. Ridiculous.

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