Dalmore 15 overpowered by wood?

Unfortunately I would have to agree completely with your assesment. The 15 is a Sherry bomb, but the wood tanins really seem to overpower any fruit flavors you initially get. I think the spirit coming from Dalmore's various stills is excellent, but the over use of different cask types, the low bottling strength, and the excessive use of coloring, leads one to think that the decision makers have really led this distillery down the wrong path. Some of the best Dalmore's seem to be the independant single cask bottlings, bottled at full strength, with no added coloring, and often without chill filtering! The prices of these Independants is also far more affordable!

I'd say Dalmore 15 is definitely overpowered by Caramel E150. Dalmore really adds a lot of that compared with other distillers. As for the wood you mention, yet is does seem a little bitter to me, as well, despite the fake coloring/sweetner.

Alternatives to the Dalmore 15 might include Glengoyne 17 and Glenfarclas 17. I like those much better. Each of them costs less than the Dalmore 15 (in Oregon USA). You might also try the Auchentoshan Three Wood. It has a nice woody influence that does not overpower.

@rigmorole: Remember that caramel-colouring is actually bitter in itself.