Whisky: Dalmore 18 Years Old
Producer: Whyte & MacKay Ltd.
Distillery: The Dalmore
Whisky Type: Single Malt (100% malted barley from one distillery)
Region: Highlands
Age: 18
ABV: 43%
Cask: American oak ex-bourbon, Matusalem, and Oloroso sherry.
Price Range: $$$$
The Dalmore distillery was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson and is currently owned by Whyte and MacKay. The style of The Dalmore is that of Christmas cake, toffee, and dried fruits created by Master Blender Richard Patterson, an industry leader and Scotch Whisky celebrity.
The distillery sits in the Highlands overlooking the Cromarty Firth, with a heritage that dates back to 1263. According to the distilleries website, “Colin of Kintail, Chief of the Clan Mackenzie, saved King Alexander III from the fury of a charging stag. In recognition of this noble act, the King granted the Mackenzie Clan the right to use the 12 pointed Royal stag emblem on their coat of arms.”
When Alexander Matheson passed away, descendants from Clan Mackenzie purchased the distillery in 1891 and adopted the 12-pointed Royal stag as the official emblem for all of its whiskies
In 1960, White & MacKay acquired the distillery and used the single malt mainly for W&M’s blends. Today Dalmore is available as 12, 15, 18, and 25 years old, Non-Age Statements (i.e., Cigar Malt), and limited editions.
Like The Macallan, Glenfarclas, and Aberlour, the distillery is known for aging its whiskies in ex-sherry casks exclusively sourced from the renowned Gonzalez Byass bodega, giving the whisky a raisin and chocolate character.
Now the Tasting Notes for Dalmore 18 Years Old
Dalmore 18 Single Malt Scotch is aged 14 years in American oak ex-bourbon casks, matures another three years in Matusalem (a blend of Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry) butts, and finishes one year in ex-sherry butts. It is safe to say that the malt contains caramel coloring (E150a) and has been chill-filtered.
This malt is a Travel Retail Exclusive (airport only) presented in a beautiful packaging that highlights the 12 pointed Royal stag in the front of the bottle, making it hard to ignore in a duty-free shop.
- Nose: A gentle nose of oranges and chocolate.
- Palate: The malt has a thin and delicate palate. Oranges, sherry, chocolate, and raisins are the primary flavors. Adding water will bring up honey. Adding too much water will disintegrate this whisky.
- Finish: Short with a slight bitterness, which goes away with water.
Conclusion on the Dalmore 18 Years Old
Dalmore 18 delivers on the palate what promises in the nose. It’s an enjoyable single malt. However, it is not as complex as I expected and feels thin on the palate for an 18-year-old. The malt also commands a price that is hard to justify. Compare this malt with other ex-sherry casks of the same age (i.e., Aberlour 18), and you will conclude that you can get more value for your money with other expressions.
Dalmore 18 can be enjoyable for an occasional Scotch drinker but could be a bit disappointing for a whisky geek. At the end of the day is your experience that counts, so give it a try and let me know your thoughts. Cheers!
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Score: 3/5 ⭐
Legend
$50 or less $
$51-$100 $$
$101-$150 $$$
$151 or more $$$$
