The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve

Scotch category Winner of the Flaviar Community Awards 2018.

Alexander Matheson, a trader who made his fortune in illegal opium imports from the Far East, founded the Dalmore Distillery in 1839. It is located on the northern shores of the Firth of Cromarty, deep in the Scottish highlands. The Dalmore changed owners many times throughout the years, with Clan Mackenzie being in control the longest. Clan Mackenzie is to thank for Dalmore's signature twelve-progned stag included on all Dalmore bottles. The story of the stag goes back to 1263, when the head of clan Mackenzie heroically saved Scottish King Alexander the Third, with a single arrow to end the Stag's attempt. This distillery boasts with producing one of the most expensive Whiskies in the World, and for being the first to ever export Malt Whisky.

What makes Dalmore special? They are in the Northern Highlands, halfway between Inverness and Tain. Sure, there is the spring water and the single-malt. And all of Dalmore’s Whiskeys start in ex-Bourbon barrels. Solid work so far, but this puts them in line with several other quality brands. What sets them apart is the finishing.

Dalmore knows when they made a mistake. You see, Dalmore’s “Cigar Malt” was for years one of their most popular special editions. But somewhere along the way, a first-year marketing MBA got all “naughty” and decided that the term “cigar malt” was confusing, politically incorrect, or other such hogwash. So, this delicious, Sherry-infused wonder was discontinued in 2009. As you might imagine, we—along with the majority of the Whisky-drinking universe—were not pleased.


The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve was promptly returned to production two years later. That MBA? We heard that “Scrooge McMarketing” is bussing tables at a road-house off Interstate 10. That guy got off lucky.

No … “cigar malt” does NOT mean you MUST smoke a cigar. It means that it goes REALLY well with one. And it really, really, really does. For those of us who do not partake of that particular vice, all you need to know is that 70%—yes, seventy percent—of the casks used to age this Whisky more than twelve years are Matusalem Gonzalez Byass Sherry casks … AND THEN it’s finished in premier cru Cabernet Sauvignon wine barriques. BUY NOW before someone at Dalmore goes all naughty on us again!

The Dalmore Cigar Malt + Padron 1926 No.9 Maduro
The Dalmore and Padron are a match made in heaven. The full-bodied dram combines extremely well with the full-bodied cigar. The lemon rind and orange candied peel of the Dalmore, calms the
peppery, earthy and leathery flavours of the Padron. The lower alcohol content of the Whisky lets the caramel extract, elevating the cigar’s coffee and cocoa sweetness, which is somewhat subdued.

That’s really where the magic happens.