On the nose, this 15-year-old Dalmore expression from 2008 casks is the sweeter and more upfront of the two samples I’m evaluating here, really reveling in the sherry cask maturation even in comparison with flagship Dalmore bottles from the Principal Collection. I’m getting maple and orange zest, as well as bold nuttiness and sherried character. There’s honey here, drizzled over sticky dried fruit, evoking prune. The whole thing gives an air of rich decadence and heavy fortified wine character.

On the palate, this displays heavy dark dried fruitiness, along with dark honey, oxidized nuttiness, citrus and apricot-like stone fruit. I’m also getting creamy milk chocolate, transitioning slowly into the roasty, coffee-like finish I often get from Dalmore expressions. It’s a familiar type of profile to lovers of sherried single malts, playing many of the hits as it were, and is easy to enjoy. In terms of the sherry character, this likewise feels like one of the most assertively sherried expressions I’ve tasted from the distillery, so lovers of “sherry bomb” scotch whiskies will want to take notice. Very vinous, very decadent stuff here.