[41.5%・49 Years Old・Bottled in 2019・Official Bottling・Limited Release of 1 Bottle]
So a little background information, this is a polygamous marrying of Dalmore whiskies from a bourbon barrel, a cask seasoned with 40+ year old Pedro Ximenez and a Tawny Port pipe, filled in a Baccarat crystal decanter and stored safely in a bespoke handcrafted wooden cabinet..
I was generously offered a taste of a sample taken out for prospective bidders.
Nose:
Provocative from the get go with a sultry dose of aged leather and almonds, brushed with fine chocolate and cinnamon dust. Prunes seasoned with a seductively acidic strawberry reduction as the oak inspires some sensual notes of roasted rosemary and dried mint.
Palate & Finish:
A luxuriously creamy mouthfeel of filtered prune syrup dripping onto marzipan, only a subtle showing of tannins at first, fully immersing into the thickness of the dram. Blood orange liquor in time unclothes notes of earthy espresso and cigar leaves.
A lasting velvet-esque finish, the Tawny Port influence leaving notes of matured and slightly dehydrated grapes and strawberries on the tip of the tastebuds with leather and dried mint suggestively stretch on, and for the final course a satisfying note of crispy streaky bacon.
Thoughts:
Having the L’Anima reminds me of the Ortolan scene from Billion, “one is bliss, two is gluttony” and I must shamefully confess that I had three nips of the dram. Not quite three stars but perhaps one of the most memorable drams I have come across..
At this age and strength, it’s not deigned to create an existential crisis for whisky snobs but rather to give immense pleasure, for me this is the Dalmore, such outrageous boldness with such soft touches. At the risk of political and brand incorrectness but with all due respect and admiration this is Adriana Lima in black La Perla.
I was rather turned on by the idea that the L’Anima possesses this savoury edge that just pushes it over the top, and the Tawny Port influence is simply hedonistic; no doubt a Dalmore bathed in all of its finest elusive glory and the articulated campaign to celebrate this whisky is rightfully justifiable, in my opinion.
Pairing the L’Anima with dishes created by chef Massimo Bottura’s likely would be a religious experience..
☆☆ [Highly Recommended]
P. S. Thank you Joshua, Justin and Martin for this experience.
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