Dalmunach: the Big Friendly Giant whisky producer
Dalmunach is perhaps best compared to Diageo’s Roseisle Distillery. It is huge in capacity, and delivers malt whisky to the biggest blends in the world. But where the comparison is totally off, is the availability of the malt as its own brand. Roseisle has of course had some official releases now, but Dalmunach has been widely available over the years via independent bottlers. So, where Roseisle remains an obscure operation, Dalmumach already has some recognition, like a Big Friendly Giant who does not mind to play. Not bad for a distillery that has only been producing since 2015. I have a weak spot for this distillery that was build on the location where the Imperial Distillery used to stand. The nice Speyside soft character is very present in Dalmunach, but it also seems to play easily with exotic casks. So, a rather versatile spirit then! We put one to the test from an independent bottler.
Dalmunach 9 years old, bottled at 46 % abv by James Eadie
First things first: Produced on 11 October 2016, this was bottled as a small batch in 2025, from casks # 364523, 364524 and 364525. Some 1426 bottles available. The maturation is almost double, as the duration of the finish in PX hogsheads was 51 months, so well over 4 years.
Upon Sipping: Still, despite the split maturation, there is two sides to this Dalmunach. On the one side I pick up fresh apples, whiffs of vanilla and grassy notes, but on the other side I get all the influences of the PX. Hazelnuts, layers of ozone, some blood oranges but very subtle, and hints of caramel and chocolate. Quite a lot on offer! There is a tingle of wood smoke, like chimney in the middle of a forest. The taste if more chocolate forward and one-sided, as if the battles was fought on the nose but full integration took place on the palate. Upon swallowing, you get a lot of wood notes and quite a smoky kick. The PX is not very traditionally present here, nothing overly sweet. Had I tasted this blind, I would have not guessed a PX influence. Reading back my descriptions above, it also does not sound like PX. We will have to take the label’s truth of course. Still, it has some classic old-fashioned notes that please me, like the insides of a woodshed where all kinds of tools lie in waiting for the next day, to cut down trees or trim the hedges.
Word to the Wise: A whisky for the lumberjack to enjoy! I get a strong forest vibe from this Dalmunach. Scottish glens, trees as far as the eye can see, and a rewarding dram after working in the woods for a few hours, filling the basket with logs for the fire.
Score: 83 points.