Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Dram Mor Group
Official website: drammorgroup.com
Although the (excessive) heat of summer now seems only a faint memory, Scottish bottler Dràm Mòr takes us back to those carefree months with the summer releases of its bottlings. Six single casks of which the Glenglassaugh 8yo and Tamnavulin 10yo are missing from the tasting, so let’s put the remaining four in writings, leaving you to discover the other two.
Dràm Mòr Auchroisk 2008 (15yo)
Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 54.1%ABV
Ageing cask: Finished in ex-Bourbon first fill
Average price: € 100,00
Vote: 87/100
One of the many neglected distilleries in Diageo’s portfolio occasionally finds a way to emerge in independent bottlings, in this case with a finishing of unspecified duration in a first-fill hogshead ex-bourbon with 231 bottles.
Tasting Notes
Slight acidic attack, of peach yoghurt, which soon dissipates into a decidedly fresh and floral nose, with honeysuckle and lavender scattered over sponge cake, almond paste, candied pear, meringue and honey. The pastry component intensifies over time, while maintaining a definite vegetal and acidic component.
White pepper, nutmeg and horseradish pave the way for a palate characterised by floral and vegetal notes, more evident at the mouth and ever present throughout the drink, bringing to the fore cocomerina pear, brioche, marshmellow, chestnut honey, marzipan and lime. Vibrant and peppery, along the length it tingles the tongue with chilli pepper while giving a caress of brown sugar and vanilla.
The finish is quite long and spicy with vegetal and bitter notes, pear, candied citron, marzipan.
A teenager that kicks and paws, difficult to leave indifferent with all the energy it expresses, especially in the drink, incisive and resounding. Not for everyone, but that is not a flaw.
Dràm Mòr Glen Moray 2010 (13yo)
Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 56%ABV
Ageing cask: Finished in ex-Tokaij
Average price: € 80,00
Vote: 86/100
Finished in an hogshead former tokaji wine first-fill (pretty tough) with 229 bottles produced for this classic speysider, which returns for the label after 2021 (then in madeira) with the same vintage.
Tasting Notes
Despite expectations, the nose is soft, almost waxy, with just a hint of acidity in the background. Fruit with peach, apricot, white melon, plum and pink grapefruit, accompanied by vanilla cream, maple honey, meringue and a background of white flowers and wax. Along the length it extracts a crisp, spring breeze vein with vegetable and mineral touches.
It pulls out the fangs on the palate, with black pepper, ginger and a touch of nutmeg underlining the more overtly vinous tones but still in a minor tone, as if the cask had been working on the tip of the wood (short finishing?). Currants, cranberries and gooseberries lead the fruity chorus with the components of the nose, while the sweet part is a minor counterbalance, with a citric grapefruit note that acts as a leitmotif to the drink. Slight inflections of nuts and wood on the length.
Not very long finish of nuts, vegetal and mineral notes, red fruits, peach.
A truly surprising and spectacular nose that is only partly found on the palate, only to “slip” in the finish: a downhill drink, which starting from high peaks nonetheless falls on its feet and defends itself well, staying well beyond pleasantness.
Dràm Mòr Dalmunach 2016 (7yo)
Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 58.4%ABV
Ageing cask: Finished in ex-Bourbon 1st fill
Average price: € 80,00
Vote: 85/100
Another return for the label, with finishing in a first-fill cask from Buffalo Trace, with 254 cask strength bottles.
Tasting Notes
It’s delicate when approaching the glass, with floral and herbaceous aromas that lead the way to a sweet heart of Victoria sponge cake, wildflower honey, shortbread, candied fruit (coconut, pineapple, pear) and vanilla. Slight mentholated base along the length. Fresh and direct.
In the mouth it finds the same balance, with a hint of pepper and ginger in addition, remaining on the tones of a sweet freshness that does not overdo one way or another. Fruit, confectionery, vegetal notes (less floral) with the appearance of green tea, a touch of liquorice, lemon zest… all amalgamating elegantly, without peaks or lapses.
The finish is quite long and dry with pepper and ginger on fruit, confectionery and vegetal notes.
The elegance of simplicity, a perfect drink for sharing at a chat table, flowing smoothly with no worries with the risk of finishing the bottle without even realising it.
Dràm Mòr Invergordon 1997 (27yo)
Origin: Highlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Strength: 52.2%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon refill
Average price: € 120,00
Vote: 83/100
The only full maturation of the bunch for this 218-bottles single grain, which is also the most aged of the release.
Tasting Notes
On the nose, the vegetal and cereal soul is quite evident, with a slight acetone note marking initially somewhat faint aromas of fruit (pear juice, unripe apple, banana), sugar paste, vanilla, ginger biscuits. Timid.
In the mouth, it finds the charge of its years, starting with white pepper, ginger and aniseed over a creamy and more assertive body of custard, cooked pear and apple, almonds, muesli cereal flakes, green tea and cucumber.
Quite long and spicy finish of pear, almonds, green tea.
Difficult to expect complexity and layering from a single grain, even a very aged one like this, but in its simplicity it is nevertheless appreciated for a light-hearted and agile drinking experience.