The Dalmore
The sherry-matured single malt with the twelve-pointed stag on the bottle. Everything about the types, the orange and chocolate flavor, how to drink it and the glass that goes with it.
The Mackenzies' stag
The Dalmore is a single malt from Alness, on the Cromarty Firth in the northern Highlands. The distillery was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson and was owned by the Mackenzie family for more than a century. The twelve-pointed stag on the bottle is their clan emblem: according to legend, an ancestor saved King Alexander III from an attacking stag in 1263 and was granted the animal as his coat of arms. Today, The Dalmore belongs to Whyte & Mackay.
The house style is rich and sherry-led. Every Dalmore first matures in American oak from the bourbon industry and then in oloroso sherry casks from González Byass, with port, Madeira or wine casks added for the more expensive bottles. The result is a full-bodied, sweet whisky with orange, chocolate and spices. Master blender Richard Paterson made the brand famous with extremely old and expensive bottlings, but the 12 and 15 Years are quite affordable.
In brief
What types of The Dalmore are there?
From the 12 Years to the King Alexander III: all rich and sherry-led, with increasingly varied cask types and depth.
The Dalmore 12 Years
The classic: nine years in bourbon casks, then partially in oloroso sherry. Orange, chocolate and a soft, warm finish.
12 Years Sherry Cask Select
The 12 with additional maturation in three types of Andalusian sherry casks and bottled at 43%. Richer, sweeter and deeper than the standard 12.
The Dalmore 15 Years
Twelve years in American oak, then three years in three types of sherry casks. Full-bodied and velvety, with dried fruit and cinnamon.
Port Wood Reserve
Finished in tawny port casks and bottled at 46.5%. Creamy caramel, sweet plums and a hint of coffee.
Cigar Malt Reserve
Bourbon, Oloroso sherry and Cabernet Sauvignon casks. Made to drink with a cigar: rich, sweet and full of sherry and vanilla.
King Alexander III
Matured in six types of casks: bourbon, sherry, Madeira, Marsala, port and Cabernet Sauvignon. Complex, fruity and without an age statement.
The 12 Years is the whisky the brand is known for; the Port Wood is the finest step up.
Orange, chocolate and sherry
Orange & sherry
Candied orange, dried fruit and a hint of coffee and chocolate from the sherry casks.
Full and smooth
Round and sweet, with orange peel, dark chocolate, cinnamon and a subtle nuttiness.
Long and warm
A long, warm finish of sherry, spices and oak. Even fuller in the Port Wood and 15 Years.
Flavor profile of The Dalmore 12 Years. The Port Wood is sweeter and fruitier, while the Cigar Malt is richer and spicier.
Three ways to drink The Dalmore
A sherry malt like this is best enjoyed neat. A drop of water opens it up; ice is fine for the 12, but a waste for the older bottles.
Neat, in a tulip glass
Pour 30 ml into a tulip-shaped tasting glass and let it sit for a few minutes. Smell, taste and optionally add a few drops of water: the orange and chocolate come through.
Glass: tasting glass →On the rocks
50 ml Dalmore 12 over one large ice cube in a heavy tumbler. Cold and refreshing, with slightly less aroma; let the ice do its work for a moment.
Glass: tumbler →Old Fashioned
60 ml Dalmore 12, a bar spoon of sugar syrup and two dashes of Angostura, stirred over a large ice cube with an orange zest. The orange notes in the whisky make this a natural match.
Go to the recipe →Cocktails with The Dalmore
A rich sherry malt works well in classics where the whisky takes center stage. Use the 12; the older bottles are for drinking neat.
Old Fashioned
Whisky, sugar and bitters over a large ice cube. Dalmore's orange notes make it extra smooth.
Manhattan
Whisky, sweet vermouth and bitters, stirred. With Dalmore, a Scottish Rob Roy instead of a Manhattan.
Godfather
Whisky and amaretto over ice. Two sweet, nutty flavors in one glass.
Whisky cocktails
All cocktails made with whisky in one list, from Whiskey Sour to Penicillin.The right glass for The Dalmore
A tulip-shaped tasting glass for drinking neat, a heavy crystal tumbler for on the rocks and Old Fashioneds, and a beautiful decanter for the cabinet. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about The Dalmore
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