Dalmore Distillery
Address : Dalmore Distillery, Alness, Ross-Shire, IV17 0UT
Telephone No : 01349 882362
Web Site : www.TheDalmore.com
Visitors Centre : Yes
The Distillery was established in 1839 by Alexander Matheson, (a trader who made his fortune in illegal opium imports from the Far East). It sits on the banks of the Cromarty Firth overlooking the Black Isle, half Gaelic and half Norse in origin, Dalmore means big meadow land.
Dalmore has a strong family lineage, from the Mackenzie family who purchased the distillery in 1886, and whose twelve pointer stag crest still adorns the bottle, to the present day, where the small band of stillmen that operate Dalmore originate from a handful of local families, in one case three generations working together. This constant has ensured that Dalmore's quality has never faltered and the belief that Dalmore is the finest highland malt never wanes.
On the 15th April 2005, a bottle of 62 year old Dalmore was sold at the Pennyhill Park Hotel, Bagshot, Surrey for a record breaking £32,000. The blend was a mix of 5 casks, from 1868, 1878, 1922, 1926 and 1939. Only 12 bottles were produced. The person who bought it, opened it straight away and shared it with some friends and the lucky bar manager, Denis Barthe.
Here are a few more whiskies produced at the Dalmore Distillery:
Dalmore 12 Y/O 40%
Colour: Rich, deep, golden mahogany. Nose: Intense and firm. Well structured with silky smooth malty tones - a hint of Oloroso sherry lingers in the background. It shows great finesse, extolling fragrances of orange, marmalade and spiced notes.
Taste: Good attack on the mouth, more elegance than muscle. The aged Oloroso butts smooth its rich, fleshy body with great harmony. Almost a concentrated citric mouth-feel captivates and tantalises the middle part of your tongue.
An aftertaste of great abundance rewards the palate.
Dalmore 15 Y/O 40%
Nose: A chocolate orange. Potpourri, perfumed. Fruitcake, sherry.
Palate: Medium, lovely delivery. Zesty orange, Blue Curaçao, chocolate. Winter spice, stem ginger in syrup. Hints of anise and a little hickory.
Finish: Malty barley and smoky espresso.
Dalmore Gran Reserva 40%
Nose: A little light. Like breakfast: malty toast with jam and butter, marmalade too, filter coffee and tobacco (not breakfast for everyone).
Palate: Medium, cream. Notes of orange and zest, herbs and spices; star anise, fennel, chamomile and orange blossom. Fudge.
Finish: Medium to short. Malty, salty butter, cocoa.
Dalmore King Alexander III 40%
Nose: Malty and utterly Dalmore. Seville orange zest, Parfait Amour, malty cereal, barley and chocolate. Creamy vanilla fudge, tropical fruit with a vaguely vinous quality.
Palate: Medium, rounded. Winter berries, spice, zesty orange. Liqueurs emerge; Gran Marnier, kirsch and Frangelico.
Finish: Peppery with well-integrated oak and the claret makes a last minute appearance.
DALMORE 50 Year Old 10cl Decanter
Tasting Notes
Nose: Highly concentrated nose: black truffle, soy sauce and tamarind, roasted tea. Orange peel. Exotic and leathery with massive levels of whisky rancio mixed with a rooty vetiver note.
Palate: Polished, smoky. Prunes and earth. It could be an ancient armagnac. Obvious age and big tannic grip but there's a hint of berry fruits.
Finish: Lengthy and gripping.
This costs about £715 per 10cl bottle.
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