So, Dalmore. Cool packaging. Big ole stag on the front, dark mahogany color. Very well presented. Probably my favorite bottle design. So, I'm expecting a big, manly dram. Yeah, no.
Nose: Caramel dominates the nose. Salted caramel, toffee, sugar, xmas spices like nutmeg and cinnamon.
Palate: Quite sweet. The caramel backs off a bit, leaving a sweet array of brown sugar and xmas spices. Brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon. Nice and warming, but not much bite.
Body: Very thick and creamy. One of the thicker, richer whiskies I've tried.
Finish: Caramel comes back on the finish. Lingering and sweet.
Overall: This is an enjoyable, warming winter drink. A bit sweet, and I really, really, really wish they would bump this up to 45-50%. As far as scotch whisky goes, this drink is ironic to me. The experience doesn't match the expectations with the huge stag on the front. It's very sweet, and doesn't have much of a kick. I like it, but the marketing is misleading for me. I was expecting more of a manly oomph.
@casualtorture Dalmore 18yo at Hong Kong is a bargain? I heard a lot of people in Hong Kong flying to Taiwan to buy whiskies, since Hong Kong's liquor tax(over 30% ABV) is 100% and Taiwan only 2.5NTD for every one percent ABV per liter(70NTD for a bottle of 40% 0.7L whisky, about 2USD ). Dalmore 18 yo here is about 130USD or 870RMB now in the duty free shop.
So, my little advice is, come to Taiwan for a little holiday, and buy some good whisky if you are looking for real bargain.
@mystycreek the 18yo is only 1100HKD right now at the duty free store into Shenzhen (where you don't pay tax) and since the exchange rate has changed (100rmb=110hkd) Hong Kong really is a bargain. That's a 1liter bottle too. Not 70cl.