All about The Dalmore

Dalmore offers a comparatively broad range of ages and finishes. But by far the most popular is their core 12 YO single malt. All others are built upon this foundation, so let us tell you about this experience.

Like other northern Highlanders, it's core spirit is light and fruity. No smoke, no peat, no nonsense. It is finished in Sherry casks which has to be one of the best combos in the history of Whisky. So the net result is a rich, full body with a medium level of sweetness. The aroma is woody and dense with notes of cherry pipe tobacco. On the palate you will findspice cake, cream, sulatans, vanilla, and dark chocoalte and a pleasant set of baking spicies. The finish is medium-to-long, warm and sweet.

All about The Dalmore distillery

Dalmore Distillery sits in the "magic" zone of northern Highlands single malt Whisky. the limestone hills that start as Dingwall in the Cromarty race up to the northeast, and then bend left into the Dornach Firth. Route A9 roughly follows along at the base of these hills.

The water that seeps out of the natural springs here must be blessed by Druids or something, because some of the best Highland single malts come from right here: Glenmorangie, Balblair, and Dalmore. Dalmore sits in the town of Alness on a broad plain by the sea.

Alexander Matheson founded Dalmor Distillery in 1839. He ran it successfully for nearly three decades and then decided to retire, selling the facility to Andrew and Charles Mankenzie. As prominent members of the Clan MacKenzie, they incorporated the family crest -- the 12-pointed stag -- into the distillery logo and it is still used today.

It has been purchased several times since then, until it was ultimately acquired by a local conglomerate from Glasgow -- Whyte & Mackay -- who were then acquired by Emperador from the Phillipines in 2014.

Dalmore is the most prolific of the northern Highland shops, with an annual output of 4.2 million liters. Their first priority has been their single malts, with a balanced amount being sold off to blends.

Uniquely, they pride themselves on the fact that they have a variety of still shapes and sizes in their still house (most distilleries have a single type).

Dalmore thinks that it brings a complexity to the spirit. Aging is conducted exclusively in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks and finished in Gonzalo Byass Sherry casks. Some special editions use other premium exotic wood finishes.

Their single malt enjoys a very large following, and some of the rarer contempory releases can sell for tens of thousands of dollars.

Distillery info

  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Region: Highlands
  • Address: Dalmore Distillery, Dalmore Alness, Highlands and Islands, Alness IV17 0UT, United Kingdom
  • Phone: +44 1349 882362
  • Website: www.thedalmore.com