| |
Dalmore
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Dalmore, 12-Year-Old (Scotland) 
Now consisting of 50 per cent whisky matured in ex-Oloroso Sherry wood and 50 per cent from ex-Bourbon American white oak, the Dalmore 12-year-old is altogether more profoundly rounded than its predecessor, which contained 30 per cent whisky from ex-Sherry wood. The attractively perfumed nose offers sweeter malt, thick cut orange marmalade, Sherry and a hint of leather. Fuller-bodied than the previous 12-year-old, it has an initially drier Sherry taste, though sweeter Sherry develops in the mouth, along with spice and balancing, delicate, citrus notes. The finish is longer, with more spices, ginger, lingering Seville oranges and a suggestion of vanilla. The ‘old’ Dalmore was a fine whisky, but it as though a gifted child has been sent to finishing school and emerged with more poise, manners and confidence. The downside is a price hike of around £10. 40.0% ABV, 70, £35.00, specialist whisky merchants.  |  |
Dalmore, 12-Year-Old (Scotland)
The backbone of the Whyte & Mackay blend, but a highly regarded Highland malt in its own right. Distilled on the shores of the Cromarty Firth, north of Inverness, Dalmore is a whisky that holds its age well, and older expressions are warmly recommended. However, the ‘entry level’ 12-year-old is no slouch.
Fruity and appetising on the nose, with malt, orange, light Sherry and a touch of gingery spice. Medium bodied on the palate, Sherried, fruity and malty. The finish is medium in length, drying and persistently nutty.
40.0% ABV, 70cl, £24.99, widely available. | |
Dalmore, 1263 King Alexander III (Scotland)
This innovative addition to the Dalmore line up takes its name from the fact that in 1263 an ancestor of the Clan Mackenzie, later owners of Dalmore distillery for many years, saved King Alexander III from being gored by a stag. The stag’s head duly became the Clan Mackenzie motto, and adorns all expressions of the Dalmore range. ‘1263’ carries no age statement, but contains some whiskies dating back to 1990, and Master Blender Richard Paterson’s creative streak has been given full reign here. This whisky has been matured in vintage Oloroso and Madeira butts, vintage Bourbon barrels and Cabernet Sauvignon barriques. The nose presents a complex blend of almonds, hedgerow berries, plums, brittle toffee and a faint whiff of treacle. Equally complex on the palate, with Sherry and fresh berries merging with plum notes, plus vanilla and toffee influences from the Bourbon barrels. The overall result is a skilful confection that provides great harmony and sophistication, offering a very different Dalmore experience, while retaining all the malt’s core values. 40.0% ABV, 70cl, £120.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Dalmore, 15-Year-Old (Scotland)
An completely new addition to the Dalmore range, this 15-year-old has been matured entirely in Matusalem, Apostoles and Amoroso Sherry casks. The nose is generous and sweet, with toffee, vanilla and medium Sherry, plus the distinctive Dalmore orange aroma. Nicely balanced Sherry and Christmas spices on the palate, plus lush malt and a drier, gingery nuttiness. That nuttiness carries through into the long and progressively drying finish, where there is also a final note of vanilla. Dalmore and Sherry wood have always worked very well together, and it is pleasing to see an example of 100 per cent Sherry wood-aged Dalmore available at an affordable price. 40.0% ABV, 70cl, £45.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Dalmore, 1973 Chateau Haut Marbuzet Cabernet Sauvignon (Scotland)
Dalmore single malts tend to hold their age extremely well, as evidenced by this highly unusual 33-year-old limited edition offering from Dalmore distillery on the Cromarty Firth, north of Inverness, Initially matured in American White Oak, this whisky has subsequently spent several years in Cabernet Sauvignon casks.
The nose is initially far from typical of a Dalmore, with notes of grape pulp, prunes and fudge, giving way to aromas of soft fruit and honey. The citric character of Dalmore is combined on the palate with blackberries, liquorice and a clear suggestion of fruity red wine. The finish is long and spicy with plums and persistent berries right to the end. An intriguing whisky with true elegance and refinement. The ‘King of Grapes’ has done Dalmore proud.
52.0% ABV, 70cl, £395.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Dalmore, 40 Years Old (Scotland)
Distilled on 13th February 1965, and matured in American White Oak before a period of finishing in Gonzalez Byass Oloroso Sherry butts. As with the new 33-year-old Dalmore, just 1,000 bottles of this expression have been released, and both should find their way into the shops during the next few weeks.
Classic Dalmore orange marmalade combines with Christmas pudding on the nose. Faint notes of wood linger in the background but fail to spoil the party. Brittle toffee and bitter chocolate combine skilfully on the palate with spicy orange and almonds. The finish goes on forever. What a great whisky to find in your Christmas stocking!
40.0% ABV, 70cl, £1,300.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Dalmore, Black Pearl Madeira Wood Finish 12-yr-old (Scotland)
Following on from the success of the now very elusive Dalmore 1973 Gonzalez Byass Sherry Cask Finish (if you see one, buy it) Whyte & Mackay’s master blender Richard Paterson has created a Dalmore with a Madeira wood finish. Aged for 12 years before being finished in a Malmsey cask, Black Pearl takes its name from the fact that Madeira is sometimes known as ‘The Pearl of the Atlantic,’ and much of its original woodland was burnt to create settlements. The Malmsey influence gives this Dalmore an enhanced spicy, floral nose and a rich, orangey, Christmas pudding palate. A fireside dram as the nights draw in. 40.0% ABV, 1litre, £29.99, Duty Free & Travel Retail. |  |
Dalmore, Cigar Malt (Scotland)
The European Oak influence has been cranked up another few notches here from both the ‘standard’ and ‘Black Isle’ expressions to around 60 per cent in order to produce the optimum malt whisky to accompany a good cigar. Dalmore Cigar Malt carries no age statement, but it seems unlikely that any of the constituent casks is younger than ten. “Of all our malts I drink more of this than anything else,” says Master Blender Richard Paterson.
A magnificent blast of medium-sweet Sherry on the nose, with the spicy, orange and malty Dalmore house characteristics also coming into play. Big, full bodied, but not overwhelming on the palate, Sherry obviously carries the day, but not as any sort of blunt instrument. Fruit comes through clearly, with lovely notes of orange, in particular, and spice. The finish is as long as you would expect to satisfy with a fine Havana.
A beautifully made whisky. For the lover of well Sherried malts this Dalmore provides a master class in how to get it just right. Pass the Partagas!
43.0% ABV, 70cl, £27.99, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Dalmore, Gran Reserva (Scotland)
Essentially, a repackaged and re-branded version of Dalmore Cigar Malt, Gran Reserva comprises 60 per cent whisky from ex-Oloroso Sherry casks and 40 per cent from former Bourbon casks. Malt and spicy Sherry dominate the nose, with Terry’s Chocolate Orange and a hint of instant coffee. Full-bodied, with zesty orange and spice balancing the sober Sherry and fruitcake notes. The lengthy finish is a mixture of coffee, Sherry and restrained vanilla. Despite the change of name, which is intended to broaden potential sales, this remains whisky-pages’ ‘cigar malt’ of choice. 40.0% ABV, 70cl, £40.0, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Dalmore, Mackenzie (Scotland)
The Dalmore distillery at Alness, north of Inverness, boasts a long association with the Mackenzie family, who owned it until its acquisition by Whyte & Mackay in 1960. The distiller has recently linked up with the Mackenzie clan in order to aid its fundraising efforts, and the initial result is a 3,000 bottle release of The Dalmore Mackenzie.
This expression contains spirit distilled in 1992 and matured in American white oak casks for 11 years, before a final period of finishing in fresh port pipes. The result is a whisky which is rich, spicy and fragrant on the nose, with glace cherries and marzipan notes. Water releases an aroma of hot, roasted chestnuts. Mouth-coating, full-bodied and fruity, then very slowly drying to mild, oaky liquorice. The oak is accentuated by the addition of water, which also releases a slightly smoky character.
46.0% ABV, 70cl, £100.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Dalmore, Sirius (Scotland)
The most expensive whisky to pass the lips of your ‘whisky-pages’ sampler for some time.
Only 12 decanters of Dalmore Sirius 1951 cask strength, vintage single malt have been released, each carrying a price tag of £10,000, and available from selected World Duty Free (WDF) outlets.
“The international market for high-end luxury products which have an investment value is buoyant - and the finest whiskies are playing an increasingly dominant role in this sector,” says The Dalmore’s Brand Director, David Robertson.
“Our partnership with World Duty Free allows us to reach an elite group of investors and whisky aficionados across the globe. We will be focusing on key target markets in Taiwan, USA and France.”
The nose is sumptuous, with orange peel, honey, cloves and sweet, background smoke. The palate yields Sherry, dark chocolate, toffee apples, almonds and spice, while the finish is very long and drying, becoming slightly astringent, with lingering notes of cocoa.
45.0% ABV, 70cl, £10,000, Duty Free & Travel Retail. |  |
Dalmore, The Black Isle 12-Year-Old (Scotland)
Named after the fertile agricultural area across the Cromarty Firth from Dalmore distillery, The Black Isle expression differs from the ‘standard’ 12-year-old in that it contains a higher percentage of whisky matured in European Oak. Indeed, Master Blender Richard Paterson uses a 50/50 balance of American Oak and European Oak casks to achieve this effect. The cask mix for the ‘standard’ 12-year-old Dalmore is closer to 80 per cent American.
Rich and Sherried on the nose, with honey and stewed fruits. Quite full bodied, warming and malty in the mouth, with distinctive notes of spice and Sherry. Delightfully lingering in the finish; well balanced, with the Sherry and Bourbon notes working in perfect harmony.
An altogether superior whisky to the very good ‘standard’ Dalmore. More complex, sophisticated and rounded. The extra Sherry influence does this spirit a power of
good.
40.0% ABV, 100cl, £29.99, Duty Free & Travel Retail. |  |
|
|
