Brand: Dalmunach - Distilled on 15-06-2015 - Bottled on 06-10-2021
Matured & Bottled by: Claxton's Spirits, Dumfries & Galloway - Exploration Series
Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 Years
Age: 6 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 50%
Maturation: 2nd Fill Red Wine Barrique (Chateau Leovilles - St. Julien)
Chill Filtration: No
Price Average: US$ 65 (August 2025)
Maturation: 2nd Fill Red Wine Barrique (Chateau Leovilles - St. Julien)
Chill Filtration: No
Price Average: US$ 65 (August 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😑 Borderline Acceptable
Buying Advice: 👎 Too Sour, slightly Harsh and Immature
Colour:
Light Gold with shades of Orange (Natural Color)
Nose:
Young and Light. A mix of Bitter, Sweet, Sour & slightly Burnt notes. The Red Wine cask influence is not overpowering. It does not do a lot for me I'm afraid.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, lightly Burnt Toast with a mixed spread of Butter & Margarine, Sour Red Wine, Sour Cherries, Dark Red Berries and Currants, Dried Fruit like Apricots, Dates and Plums, Yeast, Mixed Nuts, Lemon, Seville-Orange, Plastic, Cinnamon & Pepper.
Buying Advice: 👎 Too Sour, slightly Harsh and Immature
Colour:
Light Gold with shades of Orange (Natural Color)
Nose:
Young and Light. A mix of Bitter, Sweet, Sour & slightly Burnt notes. The Red Wine cask influence is not overpowering. It does not do a lot for me I'm afraid.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, lightly Burnt Toast with a mixed spread of Butter & Margarine, Sour Red Wine, Sour Cherries, Dark Red Berries and Currants, Dried Fruit like Apricots, Dates and Plums, Yeast, Mixed Nuts, Lemon, Seville-Orange, Plastic, Cinnamon & Pepper.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Caramel, Vanilla, Honey, Syrup, Raisins, Cooked Vegetables, Green Leaves, Wet Sand, Herbs, Ginger, Nutmeg, Tobacco and Wood Chips.
Caramel, Vanilla, Honey, Syrup, Raisins, Cooked Vegetables, Green Leaves, Wet Sand, Herbs, Ginger, Nutmeg, Tobacco and Wood Chips.
Young and Edgy. A mix of Bitter, Sweet & Sour notes. Quite Dry. No need to wake me up for this.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Barley, Caramel, Yeast, Dark Red Berries & Currants, slightly Sour Cherries, Sour Red Wine, Creme de Cassis, Lemon, Seville-Orange, Pepper, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Dried Fruit like Dates, Plums, Figs and Apricots, Honey, Wood Chips, Mixed Nuts, Cocoa, Tobacco, Coconut, Wet Sand, Ginger, Licorice and a hint of Raw Meat.
Sweet Barley, Caramel, Yeast, Dark Red Berries & Currants, slightly Sour Cherries, Sour Red Wine, Creme de Cassis, Lemon, Seville-Orange, Pepper, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Dried Fruit like Dates, Plums, Figs and Apricots, Honey, Wood Chips, Mixed Nuts, Cocoa, Tobacco, Coconut, Wet Sand, Ginger, Licorice and a hint of Raw Meat.
Finish:
Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet, a little Harsh & quite Dry. The Alcohol is noticeable and the Spirit can't hide its Youth. I find Malted Barley, Syrup, Honey, Caramel, Mixed Nuts, Sour Red Wine, Dark Red Berries & Currants, Lemon, Seville-Orange, Burnt Grass, Coconut, Green Leaves & Herbs, Cooked Vegetables, Espresso, Cinnamon, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger, Licorice, Wood Chips and a hint of Raw Meat.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water does not improve this Dalmunach.
Rating: 6 ( ******)
Nose: 6 - Taste: 6.5 - Finish: 6
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is around 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Conclusion:
Chivas Regal bought the old Imperial distillery (1897) in 2005. In 2012 Chivas it was decided to break down Imperial (with the exception of Warehouses) & built a new distillery on the same spot in Carron. It was ready in 2015. The first official release of Dalmunach was a 4-Year old CS that was presented in 2019. The 6-Years old I'm reviewing today was matured and bottled by Claxton's, an Indie bottler. Their beautiful office is located within the Dalswinton Estate. Their Bonded Warehouse and Bottling facility are situated at the Dalswinton Bond. It contains both traditional dunnage as well as modern racked storage.
The influence of the Red Wine cask is not overpowering but it is enough to mask the intrinsic quality of the young Dalmunach spirit. Therefore I think I've not met the real Dalmunach as yet. For sure I will be looking out for other expressions of this young distillery. This specific expression by Claxton's does not give me a lot of satisfaction. It's yoo Young and immature and slightly too Sour for my likings. I can't really recommend this.
Cheers! 🥃
Jan van den Ende August 7, 2025