The Dalmore 45 Year Old is one of the oldest whiskies in the distillery's Rare & Prestige range, a Highland single malt put together by master distiller Richard Paterson OBE. It spent more than four decades moving between American oak, red wine barriques and two styles of Port pipe, and it shows every stage of that route in the glass.
About This Whisky
The whisky began life in ex-bourbon American white oak barrels, then spent time in Cabernet Sauvignon red wine barriques before going back into bourbon wood. Its next stop was a set of tawny Port pipes that had held 20-year-old Port. For the final stage it was married with older whisky from ex-bourbon barrels and Colheita Port pipes. It is bottled at 40% ABV and presented in a crystal decanter inside a wooden case.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Freshly roasted coffee beans first, then orange peel, toasted oak and a little dried fig.
- Palate: Soft and rounded, with ripe fig, toffee apple, banana and a gentle cocoa note from the wine casks.
- Finish: Quietly sweet and long, with Seville marmalade, manuka honey and a light touch of cranberry.
Serving & Food
At this age the whisky is delicate, so serve it neat at cool room temperature in a small tulip glass and leave the water jug aside. A plate of Medjool dates, a slice of aged Comté or a square of 70% dark chocolate sits well beside it.
How to Enjoy
A landmark birthday, a retirement or a corporate milestone where a very old, very rare Highland malt is the point of the evening.
Product Details
Producer: The Dalmore
Country: Scotland
Region: Highland
Style: Single malt Scotch whisky
Age: 45 years old
Cask: Ex-bourbon American white oak, Cabernet Sauvignon barriques, tawny Port pipes and Colheita Port pipes
ABV: 40% ABV
Volume: 700mL
About the Distillery
The Dalmore sits on the northern shore of the Cromarty Firth at Alness, north of Inverness. Alexander Matheson, a partner in the trading house Jardine Matheson, founded it in 1839. Brothers Andrew and Charles Mackenzie took over the running of the site in 1867 and bought it outright in 1891, and the Mackenzie stag's head has marked the bottles ever since. Clan tradition holds that a Mackenzie saved King Alexander III from a charging stag in 1263, which is where the royal emblem comes from.
The Mackenzies merged their business with Whyte & Mackay in 1960, and Whyte & Mackay has belonged to the Philippine group Emperador since 2014. The distillery is known for heavy use of cask finishing and a long partnership with the sherry house González Byass.