ralfy review 631 - Dalmore 15yo malt scotch @ 40%vol
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- Опубліковано 4 бер 2017
- If you like my content you can buy me a 'wee dram' at / ralfy , thanks !
This video represents a personal opinion and perspective only.
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Richard Patterson's nose just exploded.
! Damn it! I nearly sprayed my Laphroaig 10 all over my screen laughing at that! No more browsing comments with top shelf in my mouth
@@Jacebeaner Luckely nothing of value was lost😝
And he threw a whole bottle of Dalmore on the carpet!
Yes it's over sanitised and full of brand bollxxxks but the flavour and smell of this 15 year old is fantastic, chocolate orange heaven with spices and a bit of cigar smoke
🤣🤣🤣
I am glad I found your channel as I am beginning my malt journey. I really appreciate your independent reviews. Cheers from Argentina!
Ralfy it's good to see you fired up! These winter months have made you ornery and we are the better for it!
Thank you for reviewing this Ralfy. Very early in my journey, this very bottling was one that grabbed my attention purely on marketing appeal. The bottle, the colour, the ads... everything pointed me to thinking I would love this. My first two pours I enjoyed it, and then the rest of the bottle my enjoyment continued to dissipate. It's not bad, but it certainly never lived up to the hype. It was after this that I started to research my purchases more, and watching your vlogs as part of that. After having tasted the 12 and the 15 year, I haven't had any desire to return to Dalmore while there are so many other distilleries to try. Maybe years down the road I will try it again to see if it's improved, but for now I'll be looking for more Benromachs, and Springbanks, Glengoynes and Pulteneys. Consistant, well made whisky and decent presentations. Thank you for the help that you provide us.
Ralfy it's such an wonderfull channel. Love your reviews and the knowledge, that you are sharing!
Thank you, Ralfy. I know I speak for everyone (at least who subscribes to you; perhaps not some of the distillers ;-), that we all very much appreciate your honesty and guidance in our malt purchases.
Thank you for the comments on color and the flavors associated with it. I've noticed this with the Dalmore 12yo and wasn't sure what it was.
Ralfy, you do now of course realise Richard Patterson has put a price on your head?
. . . what, again ?
Its not the Puppet that initiates movement 😉
Today my stepdad and I decided to try Talisker's Port Ruighe. Promising island character in combination with the sweetness of port, we were expecting something quite nice. That was sadly not to be the case. At first I wanted to blame myself and my relatively young taste buds... but then I remembered this video. A few sips into the dram, I could conclude the spirit was bottled too early, being far too young and unpolished for what could have been a splendid dram. Thanks Ralfy, your video was pretty darn helpful!
. . . a malt mention! That deserves a wee nip :) Cheers, Ralfy!
Thank you for this review, Ralfy, this perfectly captures and validates the thoughts I've had on official Dalmores for years now. I had this about 5 years ago and enjoyed it a bit more than you, but found it quite insulting that they bottled what could be a much better malt at 40% and CF.
I had an 18yo bourbon matured Duncan Taylor Dalmore that absolutely blew me away. It's such a shame what they have done to what could be such a great malt in the pursuit of profits.
Great rant! I remember enjoying this when I bought a bottle a few years ago, definitely got chocolate orange but I wouldn't part with more than £30 for one of these now as there are so many better malts still to be explored.
Thank you for the well timed review of this whisky Ralfy, it's on my list to buy next. Definitely not prepared to pay full retail for it ($145 AUD) based on your wise words, will wait for a sale. But I'm salivating though at the thought of an un-chill filtered E150 free bottling of this drop. Have sampled & bought the Cigar Malt only recently & really enjoyed it.
Thank you for voicing your opinion. Learned a lot from it.
I felt the same way about my recently purchased bottle of Dalmore 15. It's just OK. My wife bought me a bottle of Glenlivet 18 for Christmas and I love it. My favorite of last year's lot was my Glenfarclas 25. Loved it.
It's good to have a rant Ralfy, especially when it is justified! Luckily we have many good choices available, and your guidance to track them down. Many reviews back you talked about getting your prostate checked and I wanted to thank you for spreading the word. Soon I'll be going in to have my prostate robotically removed due to cancer and the problems from it being enlarged. Lot's of good information in a Ralfy whisky review, and I'm grateful for your honesty! Sincerely, Ossie
Ossie Weinert Good luck with your procedure Ossie, all the best wishes.
good luck with your operation and get better soon !
why are a lot of these posts cut off mid sentence?
Brohanman M none of these were
I don't have that option on SOME of them. Probably just an issue with my browser.
Loved the review and couldn't agree more. I had a sample dram from Masters of Malt of the Dalmore 12 and found it to be wonderful - Light color and tasted like marmalade and butter spread on toast. Liked it so much went out and bought a bottle to find it was completely different stuff. Dark color and way too tannic. Do you think the MoM dram was from an older bottling with the paper label?
hello ralfy
i lost the straw that comes with PRIVATE PRESERVE SPRAY...can it work JUST FINE if i spray and try to put the cork quickly or is it USELESS WITHOUT STRAW ??as the air travels very fast
. . . buy another PP spray and secure the straw with an elastic band to the can. one straw should last for two cans.
Thanks Ralfy. Tried some of 12 year over the holidays and it was decent. Perhaps Dalmore is better suited as a younger whiskey like Aberlour etc. Can we expect anymore Canadian whiskey reviews? Love the show.
Thanks for your honesty, Sir. I agree that this Dalmore is nothing more then a 3 dressed up as a 9...or as you say, "a 15 going on 12." Cheers and Love!
Don't lose enthusiasm! I agree that there are many scotches, like Dalmore 15, that are just OK but way overpriced. I just saw Dalmore 15 for 129 USD. This is more than 2X the price of the 12 y/o However, there are still some excellent whiskies out there and they tend to be non chill filtered and naturally colored. Try Springbank, Benromach, Ardbeg, Glencadam, Bruichladdich. We need to vote with our wallets and support the distilleries that do it right.
Whisky Sid my dollar always lets the industry know what I expect from it.
just my opinion, but if your going to have Dalmore, no water. From what I've heard and seen Dalmore just doesn't like water.
Hi Ralfy, thank you for your review it is really helpful for us beginners. I was eyeing for this dram but I think this is not really worth it, Chilled Filtered, with Caramel colouring and bottled @40% no! I would not give them my hard earned money. It's not worth it, anyway malty master can you please recommend me a good celebratory dram for my upcoming wedding? I looking for a Sherry monsters Scotch, my choices are Macallan 18, Glendronach 18 or 21 and Glengoyne 18 or 21. Glendronach is unfortunately hard to find this Days. Thanks
I introduced my niece to the 15YO Dalmore & she was pleasantly surprised, she actually enjoyed the wee dram. Mind you she drank it straight, without adding her usual volume of Coke Cola/orange juice/water .
Ralfy, I am so happy to have found you. I am a newbie when it comes to being one of your "Malt Mates". Well I am happy to say that I am learning much from you. Question for you: My wife and I are planning a trip to Scotland in the fall of 2017. Looking to do a Whisky Tour and wonder if you know of which distilleries I should visit as a beginner malt mate. Thank you in advance sir.
. . . best Distillery to visit would be Springbank, but if in Ediburgh, visit GlenKinchie, if in Glasgow, visit Auchentoshan. Good luck.
Question. Does the Caramel colouring add/change the flavour. Most caramel is very sweet (in confectionaries and such).
. . . yes it does, especially in single malts !
One of the few times I disagree with you. Still love the videos.
Quite a complement to you when you have 270 comments 15 minutes after posting your vlog!
Enjoy your reviews. Always a wealth of information to glean. I would love to sit with you over a dram. Closest I can come is with your vlogs. Thank you Ralfy, please keep them coming.
Dalmore is not a malt I will buy in the near future, probably due to your comments. I am not interested in paying $90 for this one, when so many others at this price or less are terrific. I am a Springbank/Benromach/Highland Park fan!
Love Dalmore usually, with the King Alexander being of my all time favourite drams. Is it a bottle you have tried yourself ralfy? Uses a huge variety of casks to get to the end result, definitely an adventure worth having
3 years on, sipping King Alexander III, watching the Ralfy show. 6 casks. Fantastic.
About the variance in quality.
When something is really off I put in an complaint. Luckily I have only had to do that one time so far and the customer service was top notch.
Two points come to mind watching this...1.I have recently read about low mineral conent water being less intrusive on flavour. I use tap water but am wondering if it is a significant enough issue to warrant for me to buy bottles specifically for mixing. 2. I would be interested to compare whiskies solely for bottling vs. whiskys for bottling/use in blends Do you know where I would be able to find out which whiskies fall into these categories (reliable resource)?
Jag Singh Mineral content of water definitely has an effect on whisky. Any purified water should do, but if you want to be a 'purist' about it, you should only use distilled water.
Thanks for the information. To bad i had it with a glenfarclas 15y... There are more peeps on whiskybase that are complaining about last years batches off this Glenfarclas. At a festival it tasted great so i hope they keep the quality up! Keep the reviews coming, 2 a week is fine!
Love your frank, honest reviews. Brilliant stuff as always!
As an aside, have you reviewed Edradour 10yr? I searched but may have missed it...
. . . Edradour reviews in the archive !
Cheers for that! It's become one of my absolute favourites and certainly wanted to see your take on it.
I have a single-cask Bladnoch 11yr, 52.9% gifted to me in 2013, purchased from Demijohn's in Edinburgh. I almost don't want to open it...
Ralfy, Have you had it without the water, please say you have. Dalmore is not a scotch that takes to water at all. Also, I found that the cigar malt reserve I had did enhance the cigar I paired it with. It did the job of making the whole experience better. I paired it with an Acid Kuba Maduro and the flavors were lovely. It just worked for me and I paid more for it than most do living in California. Snatched it up as an early 40th birthday present and I gotta say I'm not unhappy with it at all.
Note : the cigar malt reserve I have is the 2007(I think, not 100% on the date when the new one came out), the new one at 44% abv. Might be just the fact its at 4% higher and such, but I love it.
I wonder what the 3 best marks are, ralfy ever gave on Video. Do someone remember the malts?
Ralfy quote "MMA-Malt Martial Art" loll😁😁😁
Speaking of consistency, my father and i have just suffered a bad bottle of Bunnahabhain 12, it was hot and peppery almost as if the still had been rushed. Contrast that with a bottle we bought 3 years ago that was fantastic. Will be avoiding bunnahabhain for a year or two which i'm sorry to say.
. . . surprised and disappointed to hear this !
I'm hoping it was a one off but it has knocked our confidence in the distillery... unfortunately!
Jakob Thomsen no the cork was very firm on our bottle and the seal was intact
That is why i am avoiding Dalmore already for more than ten years. After 2008 it turned into a pale imitation of what it was. If i rewrite here my oppinion about it which i gave in masterofmalt.com, i am sure it will be erased. Ralfy is too generous, i wouldn't give it more than 63 points.
I've read some comments criticising Dalmore but never gave them too much credit and left it on my buy-this-someday list. Until now. Thank you Ralfy for helping me direct my cash somewhere better.
I always think of this as a nearly malt so close to "ticking the boxes" but doesn't. I have some friends who love it but all I can think about is what if it wasn't chill filtered and was 46%? When people ask do I think chill filtering makes a difference, I hold up this malt as a great example of why you shouldn't!! Great review btw.
Well, we could all bomb Richard Patterson's Twitter and say "please release a cask strength"
love the prunes taste i got from dalmore the last time i had it. Its one I'll get in the pub when i get bored of beer. Im pretty sure i could blind taste the 12 and know what it is.
Cheers Ralfy another great review thanks 😊
My pops has a bottle of this as a gift and from the couple tries I've had I wouldn't give it any higher than an 80. Personally I found Aberlour 16 is a much better 80 proof scotch and its also 30 dollars cheaper. Great review regardless Ralfy, always happy to see your cheery mug every week!
. . . the WHOLE Aberlour range is better value than many competitor malts.
Watching from Colorado Ralf’s
I enjoy single malt but anything over 12 years really seems to be out of my price range 15 years are over $130.+ a bottle here.
Glengoyne 12 is my new found favorite the 17 was vary good.
What are 5 of your 12 year old recommendations .
I’m trying to develop a good whiskey palate.
Ralfy, I just bought a Ben Nevis 10. I know your last review of that was about as favourable as this one ;) but Whisky Base and Serge @ WF have given recent bottlings much better feedback - any chance of a re-review? Pretty decent price too, £30.
Love your reviews but seriously how do you not love Dalmore 15 . The 12 is great and I even liked the Cigar Malt. lol. I must be really bad at whisky tasting. Recently had an Auchentoshan 12 as per your review and loved it. Keep them coming Ralfy your an amazing presenter your videos are completely addictive.
. . . aw , thanks for the positivity !
Great video, when will you revisit this one??
Awesome review as always Ralfy! I agree on every single point. Unfortunate such a great malt is presented in such a poor way....
Hey Ralfy, please can you review the Dalmore 12? Love your channel mate!
This whisky costs $90 to $95 near me, and is bottled at 40% abv...Now across the aisle is the bourbon section where I can find Buffalo Trace for $26, and is bottled at 45% with no E150, and new charred oak casks, and IMHO a better quality whiskey, and a much better value.
. . . good point, and can't disagree with you about this situation.
Try Blantons bourbon great Stuff .
The only reason Bourbon is that way is the laws make it that way, so you end up with a very similar flavor profile. I can't say i care about the E150, its what does that bottle bring to my tongue. If I like it, I share it with friends, and I jump from Angels envy, to Laphroig , and whatever's in between. Its all about flavor to me, and I have to say I like the Dalmore Ive had.
I would agree with that Whisky-Review. Gave myself 86 points and had the same thoughts "46% and it could propably have 2-3 points more".
Still liking it. For me it is very well balanced with Citrus-Fruits and Sherry-Influence (kind of Orange-Marmelade), leathery, chocolate the mouthfeel is really "juicy". I take larger sips and hold them longer in the mouth, that helps with the weak 40%.:)
Dalmore 15 was the first I tried, and the only bottle of the brand I own. Bought for under £50 with no regret, it's a truly lovely dram. I agree the nose is almost too gentle and subdued, but the taste is to me sublime. I disagree on the aftertaste too, mine stays with me pleasantly for a perfectly reasonable length of time for a 15 year. Please someone explain to me why people have such an issue with chill filtered and coloured whisky however. If the result is very nice, what's the problem? As for 40% vs 43 or 46, I'm in agreement that fuller flavours are often better (Benriach 10 for example), but not always. Certainly options would be nice, but it bothers me more when only a 46% is available and is too aggressive, than when only a 40% is available and it's perfectly approachable.
With a simple math and water , you can always transform a 46% Abv dram into a 40% Abv …..but not the other way around.
@@juangarat389 I was young and stupid when I wrote that
I consider chill-filtered whiskies to be effectively castrated. They can still be enjoyable as an easy and light dram when you're not up for a full-flavored option. But for those times when you want to relish the experience of a wild bucking bronco, non-chill-filtered is the way to go. And regarding poor batches, Talisker 10yo official bottling is currently on my s-list, probably caused by the over-extended branding of NAS releases.
Hi Ralfy.
You speak about good and bad casks. But I'm not sure I understand what makes a cask good or bad?
Is it something you could elaborate in an future video?
Thanks for a great channel.
. . . I will do a vlog specifically on this issue soon !
Love Dalmore malt! I avoid the standard bottlings unless they are greatly reduced in price. Can you suggest a worthy indie for us to check out?
. . . check out whiskybase reviews.
Wow! Not much is missing here! Thanks!
Thank you for your honest review Ralfy. Now I regret buying this bottle.
Another issue with Dalmore is the price, at least where I am. This was 10% higher than Bowmore 15 Laimrig IV which is miles better than this.
how about he 12yo and the valour??
I'd like to know who gives the thumbs down.. Probably someone at Dalmore in this case...
Richard Paterson most likely.
LOL!
The CEO of *E150a, Inc.* logs in just to downvote Ralfy's posts. ;)
Why Richard Paterson? Please explain, I am not well informed on the matter...
derkuis097 Richard Patterson is one of the Dalmore master blenders
Just a suggestion..
maybe a re-review of the Glenfiddich 15yo Solera Cask.??
Baldy Bald Here here..
The rant over disingenuous marketing, and overtaxed luxuries was incredible. I felt like I was watching a one man revolution.
I'm glad you reviewed an official bottling of Dalmore. Important people hear this advice and see how it compares to others. Fancy packaging and premium price are not an indication of quality. Also Dalmore may take note and consider removing the caramel, chill filtration and increase the ABV....wishful thinking maybe :-)
Great review and rant!!! I thought you were going to stay away from such bottlings; chill filtered and added colourant for 2017? Dalmore is the leader in this type of stripped-down (chill-filtered) drinkable 40% added colourant overpriced over marketed to the masses flavoured-water! If Dalmore could get away with anything below 40% and call it "scotch", they would. That's their philosophy, their culture, their business model. McDonalds of the hamburger industry!
I don't agree, one its e150A, which doesn't change the flavor one bit, two, while chill filtering takes from a whiskey, I don't feel like it harms the product in Dalmore's case.
Ralfy, could you do a review on Tomatin 18? Love to hear your thoughts. Be well.
. . . good idea !
i think that for the some price or best price, the are best drams, for example glendronach, glenfarclas, glenfidich solera, ...springbank, dalwhinie....
Ralfy, how many bottles do you have open at one time? I'm conscious of opening too many bottles due to the risk of oxidisation over time.
David, I personally have about 20-30 bottles open at any one time, including other spirits like bourbon, rum, cognac, etc. One tip I learned from Ralfy to avoid oxidisation is to buy a can of Private Preserve, which contains 3 inert gasses and creates a blanket of gas on top of the whisky to prevent air from getting to it. I use it one some of my more "precious" malts, and it really does prevent them from oxidizing. That said, some malts actually benefit from a bit of air exposure. You just have to experiment and see what works for you. Slainte!
. . . about 80 at the moment, but those I keep for over six months get some inert gas inside the bottle to stop oxidisation.
But then again, some bottles really come together after a long time, sometimes a few years of oxidization. For example, my Four Roses SB LE 2014 is amazing after 2 years sitting on the shelf. It's been sitting there in the first place without being gassed because it was rather disappointing during the first months. You can tell which bottles need/can take this treatment with some experience though.
David
I usually have 8-10 bottles open. I recently finished one after 12 months open - still good.
I only keep 5 single malts open at a time because I only have 3-5 drams a week. Less in the summer. The most fascinating thing to me is how whisky changes over time in the glass and over time in the bottle; once the bottle is open. I love that the most.
Hello Ralfy,
It is such a refined pleasure to listen to you every time! You are to my Canadian ears like a good Scotch to my poor soul!
I'm rather new to this noble gathering of your malt mates. So forgive me the ignorance but do you review non-traditional whiskeys from outside of Scotland? Recently I brought from my trip famous Indian single malt called AMRUT. I haven't popped the cork yet. Just waiting to finish my Canadian Club "100% rye". But usually I enjoy something like Té Bheag. I'm more into peaty tones.
Ross
. . .Amrut reviews in the archives !
ralfystuff Thanks! I will make sure to check that!
Sad to say I am losing much of my enthusiasm for Scotch. The price and quality are going in opposite directions. I am buying much less and staying with what I know.
. . . you are not alone, it's why many of my reviews are Indi bottlings rather than official ones.
And rums; some are great value and most appealing to the whisky aficionado.
As a few others have already mentioned...Scotch whisky IMHO has become a bloated joke; rising costs, quality diminishing, added E150, lower abv (more distilleries such as Aberlour have lowered their's to 40% on the 12 yr, 16 yr, and 18 yr).
Nearly 4 years ago I gave my fellow American bourbon a try, and I'm glad I did...Quality control seems more consistent, no E150, much easier on the wallet, and higher abv...About 2 years ago I explored rums, and found similar results to bourbons - as in a much more enjoyable experience over scotch.
In the USA, it's gotten to the point that many don't by scotch. Bourbon and rye has much more value. Rum is very good, and so much variety, for cheap. The craft whiskey's are coming into there own, thank god. But as a spirit entusiast scotch still gives you a great deal of quality, with variety on a single theme. It's all cyclical. 25 years from now the market will be different, but I can't say how. If you like spirits the way I do, stock up on quality, when you find it😄
One more thing, I personally use a formula for repeat buys. I give across the board mark in my journal. I've kept my journal for 5 years on Ralfy's suggestions from a vlog years ago, although he gives different spirits different marks. By my own edict, I only award repeat buys to bottles that the mark is at least divisable by three of the price USD. I've yet to find a scotch that acheives this, although Dewar's 12 does stand out as a good quality blend. I do buy bottles that are quality and discontinued no matter what, along as reasonable. Recent examples, Glenfarclas 105 w/10yo on back, Elijah Craig 12yo, and OGD 114, but apparently this is not discontinued for now. This was definitely a rant, thanks to anyone who reads this, Ralfy, your're the best!
I am curious about the table . How is it supported?
. . . four table legs and a wedge of cardboard.
I can't see the legs.
Amazing review
Great video, Ralfy! I do like watching a good rant every now and then.
I don't suppose you'd consider doing a small series on negative whisky reviews? I know it's not really your thing but it'd be really interesting. Just sayin' ;)
Was going to try a bottle but not now. Thanks for saving me money. I can get 3 bottles of eagle rare for the price of this one, and i really like eagle rare.
I'm fine with Dalmore, I plan to explore more of it, because i love their Cigar malt reserve, the new one.
That was spectacular Ralfy. You spoke the truth. I'm not sure I can come up with a higher compliment.
Ciao Ralfy, I will be in Edinburgh and Glasgow at the end of this month and wanted to know which distilleries you think it's worth visiting. Thanks :)
Luck Adversa go Glengoyne for sure.
Edinburgh, Glenkinchie, Glasgow, auchentoshan. Good luck.
Quality rant Ralphy.
"Malt Martial Arts" - brilliant!
Totally agree. Great review. Irally mad when spend $100 for a bad bottle.. The distillers should keep the quality consistentLy. .or, no one ever buy whisky again.
Good stuff....Ralfy!
Just purchased in Canada, box states 43% abv, bottle 40% abv.
Can I just add my two cents to this? To me, batch variation is not a bad thing -- as long as the quality remains in the bottle. Whisky is a "natural" product, made from varying and variable ingredients, and variation is a result of that; it's one of the charms. Good example of this to me is Old Pulteney.
I'm wondering how Dalmore will change when Gregg Glass takes over.
eric gilbert It won't. If the bosses can keep Richard Paterson reined in, they'll do the same to anyone else.
hello im currently buying some bottles for collecting from time to time. i've heard about a new swedish brand called Box. is there possibility you could do a review on one of them ?
Thanks good show :)
. . . no review plans for this brand at the moment !
Jura superstition is the one I have noticed when it comes to variation. I have loved a bottle and not like another. I also had a sample at Christmas that I could detect no peat at all
Ian Mason i have a bottle of superstition, and it is overwhelmingly peaty.
Which it is not supposed to be.
you are the savior of malt. salute
BANG! Tell it like it is Ralfy! Love it. Thank you for that! You know, as much as you might want to, and as easy as it is to, blame the producers alone, the reality is that they can and do sell highly colored crystal clear "whiskey" to the less discerning...and of course, they're the majority and they are more than willing to pay the bucks for all the wrong reasons to drink what they view as a luxury good. Alas, leaves more of the good stuff for the rest of us. Again, thanks for all you do!!
Ralfy, from the official bottlings that are affordable, good quality, with age statement and not yet Ralfy-recommended I would kindly suggest Glen Garioch 12yo, Glendronach Hielan 8yo or Tomatin 12yo. Any plans on reviewing one of these three in the near future?
. . . three good options there.
I've never been a big Dalmore fan. If I used Ralfy's rule of not reviewing anything under 80, this one wouldn't make the cut. That said, I do have an SMWS 10-year-old bottling that I'm excited to try.
Ralfy!! MMA !! So funny - Malt Martial Arts - I am a martial art instructor here in New Zealand - I have to say that's one of the best lines ever. Let me assure you ( as a malt mate, patreon mate and fellow whisky anorak) that was NOT too MMA !! It was right on the money sir.
First 3 mins of this review are amazing lol
Try Dalmore port wood reserve 46,5 %. Fantastic malt
got my first bottle of dalmore 12 and its rather good cheers mates 4/14/2021
Please Please Please do a review on EH Taylor small batch. You will love it
I cannot understand why distilleries chill-filter and add color to whisky. I understand both are intended to "improve" appearance and presentation. But I think most drinkers prefer the absence of both...and it is a counterproductive expense for the distilleries. Great review, as always, Ralfy. Thank you, sir.
Yeah I stated this above in my post; I don't understand at all why they do it. Maybe for the entry level you could perhaps justify it for those who are inexperienced with whisky; but for a 15 yo that'll come with a hefty price tag, you want a bit more bang for your buck.
Too true! I don't have an 'embargo' on CF 40% E150ised malts as such (let's be fair, some can still be very good presented that way) but I will say that NCF, 46%+ abv and natural colour will sway my purchases (that's £ & $ producer folk . . . ;) .
That's down to personal experience(s) and folk like Ralfy, who highlight the importance of presentation in the resulting quality of experience.
N.B. the 'better' CF 40% E150ised malts would, I'm sure, be even better if presented as above. Can you imagine HP 12, Laphroaig 10 or Old Pulteney 12 like that?! ;)
Very good observations! I am not a businessman...but chill filtering and added color seems to be a poor business decision regardless of the debatable influence on the product. I wonder what percentage of whisky is purchased impulsively based on appearance of the juice?
Well I'd say in the UK 'most' folk I know that buy whisky tend to stick to their favourite blend or malt and don't experiment much. Sadly, a big stag's head on the bottle and dark colour will make most people buying from a supermarket think, 'Ooh, classy!' and so on . . .
As Ralfy said on another vlog it should be about keeping the reputation of SW intact but again, sadly for us malt heads, profit (greed?) comes first.
Watch that change when sales go down though . . . if overall quality decreases word will get round!
I think its all down the to one distilling group controlling such a large slice of the Scotch market. When Diageo brands start producing 'craft style' whiskies then the rest will follow. But they are governed by marketeers who have their own agendas.
Dalmore is a good example of a good whisky that holds back too much, whereas Glendronach is a good example of a great whisky that holds nothing back. I always have mixed feelings with Dalmore because on one hand it tastes great but still needs more flavour and a longer finish to get that great malt experience! I really hope they get the point that we the customers want to see an improvement on the quality of their whisky not a drop in quality, like what has been happening as of late.
Ralfy could you please give a couple of independent distillers for Dalmore, I would really like to try them.
. . . check out reviews at whiskybase !
What are “unofficial” vs “official” bottlings?
Official are from distilleries, unofficial are from Independant bottlers.
@@ralfydotcom thanks for clarifying. So Diageo is an independent bottler and Glenlivet, of course , is the distillery?
@@jrm_music7229 . . .no, Diageo is a distillery bottler.
WHAT THE HELL OH MY GOD RALFY I WAS TRYING TO MESSAGE YOU YESTERDAY TO REVIEW THIS !!!!! i couldn't work out how to how to contact you though :(
Referencing 18:46 Technically Glenfarclas does make it into blends, but it's usually one-off, not the big conglomerates.
Referencing 18:50 Not gonna lie, I'm a lil' disappointed that Arran wasn't mentioned :/
. . . can't mention them all, but Arran certainly makes the quality top ten List !
Thanks for sharing .
Hi Ralfy, I have recently had a very poor bottle of 10yo Laphroig which tasted of smoke and nothing else with a mossy smell which had put me off the whiskey completely. My mothers Aunt passed away and we found a brand new unopened bottle of 1970's/80's 10 yo Laphroig in her cupboard which I opened. The cork broke taking it out but the taste was a revelation, much closer to a modern 16yo lagavullin than a 10yo Laphroig. Just shows how poor the quality of casks are used in current Laphroig. Standards are slipping everywhere.
David Nicholl pay the extra 20% and buy the Cask Strength 10 year old if it's Laphroaig you want.
Where? Not available everywhere and I haven't seen it in years
The same with Bowmore. It's sad, because they could be better with another presentation. I wish i had access to independant bottlings. Cheers Ralfy.
Richatd Paterson wetting his pants about one of his fave whiskies...Ralfy:..a bit Rough...fantasy and reality!!😂😂😂
I love all of Ralfy's reviews and this one is no exception. I have gained such an education and many wonderful malt moments here and will continue to do so in the future, however i do have one potentially controversial comment to make. I received the Dalmore 18 as a gift some time ago, and due to the sociological attachment i hold with this whisky, i find it extremely delightful, powerful and pleasant, despite it's lack of non chill-filtration and low abv. This attachment i hold with the whisky is a bias, beyond any doubt, but is this bias not similar to that Ralfy currently holds with the Dalmore 15 in this video? More than twice the colour of this whisky was referred to with disdain. I understand natural colour is far more genuine, but one should be able to truly enjoy a whisky's flavours and smells without constantly referring back to the colour.