The Dalmore

Active

Highland · Northern Highland · Est. 1839 · Whyte & Mackay (Philippines Emperador Inc.)

Expressions

With Tasting Notes

81%

Completeness

About

An iconic Highland distillery on the shore of the Cromarty Firth, known for its distinctive 12-pointed stag emblem (granted by King Alexander III in 1263). The Dalmore has positioned itself as whisky's luxury brand, with releases like The Dalmore 62 selling for over GBP 125,000. Master blender Richard Paterson is one of the industry's most flamboyant and skilled noses. Uses uniquely flat-topped copper stills with water jackets on the spirit stills. Known for rich, sherried, orange-chocolate character.

Production Details

Owner

Whyte & Mackay

Parent Company

Philippines Emperador Inc.

Status

Active

Founded

1839

Still Type

Pot

Stills

Capacity

4.2M LPA

Water Source

River Alness

Website ↗

Core Range9

The Dalmore 12 Year OldCore

12 Years40% ABV$60-75

American white oak ex-bourbon casks, finished in Matusalem oloroso sherry casks

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Rich amber with copper highlights; medium body with steady legs

Smell

Cinnamon ice cream, roasted almonds, and fresh caramel fudge. Chocolate and sherry mixed with spiced oak

Sip

Very sweet and rich with full, thick mouthfeel. Chocolate, sherry, caramel fudge, and spiced oak. Roasted almonds and cinnamon warmth throughout

Savor

Soft, sweet, lingering toffee finish. Gentle oak spice and sherry sweetness fade slowly. Clean and approachable

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Sweet Shop: caramel fudge, toffee, chocolate; Bakery: Sweet (cinnamon ice cream); Natural Foods: Nuts (roasted almonds), Spices (cinnamon); Pub/Bar: Wine (oloroso sherry); Furniture Maker: Wood (spiced oak)

The Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask SelectCore

12 Years43% ABV$65-85

American white oak ex-bourbon casks, finished in hand-selected oloroso sherry casks

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Deep amber with rich mahogany tones; medium-full body

Smell

Soaked raisins, milk chocolate, toffee. Raspberry jam, orange juice, subtle balsamic. Warm raisins, cinnamon, and caramelized orange peel

Sip

Caramel sweetness, light tobacco, cinnamon pastry and chocolate cake with vanilla roundness. Rich fig, date, dark chocolate, and baking spices. Roasted coffee beans. Velvety texture

Savor

Medium finish, honeyed, with latte, chocolate and gentle oak spice. Slightly bitter-dry edge of cacao and coffee beans. Oranges with balsamico note in background

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Sweet Shop: milk chocolate, toffee, dark chocolate, caramel; Greengrocer: Dried (raisins, fig, dates), Vine (raspberry); Bakery: Sweet (cinnamon pastry, chocolate cake); Tea/Coffee: Coffee (latte, roasted beans); Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon, baking spices); Tobacco Shop: light tobacco; Furniture Maker: Wood (oak)

The Dalmore 15 Year OldCore

15 Years40% ABV$90-130

American white oak ex-bourbon casks, finished in Matusalem oloroso sherry, Apostoles, and Amoroso sherry casks

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Deep copper-amber; full-bodied with rich, slow legs

Smell

Sweet and fruity — red wine, cherry, sticky caramel candy. Dominant sherry with marmalade and dried fruit notes

Sip

Sweet and fruity with Cherry Coke, sticky caramel candy, and red gummy bears. Dominant sherry throughout. Rich and full-bodied with layered sweetness

Savor

Creamy, sweet, and chocolatey finish with just a hint of citrus. Sherry influence lingers with gentle warmth. Medium-long

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Sweet Shop: caramel candy, chocolate; Greengrocer: Vine (cherry), Citrus (orange); Pub/Bar: Wine (oloroso sherry, Amoroso, red wine); Bakery: Sweet (marmalade cake); Greengrocer: Dried (dried fruit)

The Dalmore 17 Year OldCore

17 Years42% ABV2026$230-260

American white oak ex-bourbon casks, finished in Amoroso, Apostoles, and Matusalem oloroso sherry casks

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Deep burnished amber with copper highlights; full-bodied

Smell

Seville orange, rich orchard fruit, and wood spice. Complex sherry influence with citrus brightness

Sip

Poached pears, forest berries, sweet toffee, and orange marmalade. Triple sherry cask finishing delivers layered richness and complexity

Savor

Dark chocolate orange, rich dried fruit, and lingering hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. Long, satisfying, and warming

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Greengrocer: Orchard (poached pear), Vine (forest berries), Citrus (Seville orange); Sweet Shop: toffee, dark chocolate; Bakery: Sweet (orange marmalade); Pub/Bar: Wine (oloroso sherry, Amoroso, Apostoles); Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg); Furniture Maker: Wood (wood spice)

The Dalmore 18 Year OldCore

18 Years43% ABV$150-200

American white oak ex-bourbon casks, finished in Matusalem oloroso sherry casks

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Deep mahogany amber; full-bodied with viscous, slow legs

Smell

French burnt peanut candy, sherry, baking chocolate. Rich and deep with oloroso influence

Sip

Fresh plum, chocolate syrup, chocolate-covered raisins, coffee, and tobacco. Very full sherry presence throughout. Rich, complex, and layered

Savor

Long finish with sherry, dark chocolate, coffee, and gentle oak tannins. Tobacco notes linger with sophisticated warmth

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Sweet Shop: dark chocolate, chocolate syrup; Greengrocer: Stone (plum), Dried (raisins); Tea/Coffee: Coffee (coffee); Tobacco Shop: tobacco; Pub/Bar: Wine (oloroso sherry); Bakery: Sweet (French burnt peanut candy, baking chocolate); Natural Foods: Nuts (peanut)

The Dalmore 25 Year OldCore

25 Years42% ABV$1200-1600

American oak, Palomino Fino sherry butts, first-fill bourbon casks, finished in Tawny Port pipes

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Very deep amber-mahogany with reddish-port tones; full, viscous body with very slow legs

Smell

Exotic fruits, marzipan, vanilla pods, treacle toffee, fig cake, and sweet balsamic

Sip

Orange peel, chocolate truffles, liquorice, sweet damsons, and sherry-soaked raisins. Multi-cask complexity delivers extraordinary depth and richness

Savor

Demerara sugar, maple syrup, bitter chocolate, and spiced gingerbread. Very long, luxurious finish with port wine warmth lingering

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Sweet Shop: marzipan, treacle toffee, chocolate truffles, Demerara sugar; Greengrocer: Citrus (orange peel), Dried (fig, raisins, damsons), Tropical (exotic fruits); Bakery: Sweet (fig cake, gingerbread); Pub/Bar: Wine (sherry, Tawny Port); Natural Foods: Spices (gingerbread spice); Furniture Maker: Wood (oak); Sweet Shop: maple syrup, liquorice

The Dalmore Cigar Malt ReserveCore

NAS44% ABV$100-130

American white oak ex-bourbon casks, Gonzalez Byass 30-year Matusalem oloroso sherry casks, Cabernet Sauvignon wine barriques

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Deep burnished amber-copper; full-bodied with rich legs

Smell

Big orange flavours and festive spices. Caramel and brown sugar with sherry dark fruits — figs, cherries. Rich and warm

Sip

Dark chocolate, sun-dried fruits, and warm spices. Caramel sweetness balanced by oak tannins. Designed to complement premium cigars with bold, rich flavour profile

Savor

Long and warming with festive spice, orange, and sherry-soaked dark fruit lingering. Oak tannins provide structure. Rich and satisfying

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Sweet Shop: caramel, brown sugar, dark chocolate; Greengrocer: Citrus (orange), Dried (figs, sun-dried fruits), Vine (cherries); Pub/Bar: Wine (oloroso sherry, Cabernet Sauvignon); Natural Foods: Spices (festive spices, warm spices); Furniture Maker: Wood (oak); Tobacco Shop: cigar pairing (designed complement)

The Dalmore King Alexander IIICore

NAS40% ABV$200-370

Six cask finish: bourbon, Matusalem oloroso sherry, Madeira, Marsala, Port pipes, Cabernet Sauvignon barriques

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Rich amber-copper; medium-full body with elegant legs

Smell

Fudge, resin, tropical fruit, Seville oranges, and milk chocolate. Lightly floral and somewhat buttery and nutty

Sip

Supple and smooth. Complex red berries, orange rind, cream, cinnamon, and ginger. Six different cask finishes create extraordinary layered complexity

Savor

Long finish with nougat, pepper, and dark berry fruits. Gentle warming spice persists. Sophisticated and multi-faceted

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Sweet Shop: fudge, milk chocolate, nougat; Greengrocer: Tropical (tropical fruit), Citrus (Seville orange, orange rind), Vine (red berries, dark berries); Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon, ginger, pepper); Bakery: Sweet (cream); Pub/Bar: Wine (sherry, Madeira, Marsala, Port, Cabernet Sauvignon); Florist: Fresh Flowers (floral); Natural Foods: Nuts (nutty)

The Dalmore Port Wood ReserveCore

NAS46.5% ABV$60-90

American white oak bourbon casks, finished in W&J Graham's port pipes

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Deep ruby-amber with port wine tones; medium-full body

Smell

Flamed oranges, rancio, raspberry, rum cake. Blackberries and blackcurrants with apple peel, raisins, fig rolls. Port wine spices — cinnamon, nutmeg, clove

Sip

Frothy mocha opening developing into dried cherries and roasted chestnut with ginger spice. Dark yet delicate sweetness of port syrup. Extra dark chocolate with faint liquorice root

Savor

Quite long with earthiness, mushrooms and soils alongside cinnamon, tingly pepper, and charred oak. Unique savoury-sweet contrast

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Greengrocer: Vine (raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry), Orchard (apple peel), Dried (raisins, fig); Sweet Shop: dark chocolate, liquorice; Tea/Coffee: Coffee (mocha); Pub/Bar: Wine (Port); Natural Foods: Nuts (roasted chestnut), Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, pepper); Forest Trail: Woodland (earthiness, mushroom, soil); Furniture Maker: Wood (charred oak); Bakery: Sweet (rum cake)

Limited / Special Releases7

The Dalmore Distillery Select 2025 — Cabernet Sauvignon 13 Year Old

13 Years2025$450-500

Finished in Cabernet Sauvignon barriques

No Tasting

The Dalmore Distillery Select 2025 — Colheita Tawny Port 28 Year Old

28 Years2025$6500-7500

Finished in 1997 vintage Colheita casks from Graham's Port for 4 years

No Tasting

The Dalmore Distillery Select 2025 — Loire Valley 17 Year Old

17 Years46.8% ABV2025$1200-1400

Finished in Bouvet Ladubay Loire Valley sweet wine barriques for 3+ years

No Tasting

The Dalmore Luminary No. 1 15 Year Old (2022 Edition)

15 Years46.8% ABV2022$400-500

American white oak, finished in Italian Amarone red wine casks and Kintsugi casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Deep amber with warm copper highlights; full, rich body

Smell

Warm and welcoming rich fruits, panna cotta, honey-roasted almonds, and citrus oils

Sip

Multi-layered rich and uplifting citrus, chocolate, cherries, figs, brioche, and moist ginger cake. Amarone wine cask adds depth and fruit complexity

Savor

Waves of dried fruits and honey entwine with balanced wood spice and cacao. Long and refined. V&A Dundee collaboration with architect Kengo Kuma

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Sweet Shop: chocolate, honey, cacao; Greengrocer: Vine (cherries), Dried (figs, dried fruits), Citrus (citrus oils); Bakery: Sweet (panna cotta, brioche, ginger cake); Natural Foods: Nuts (honey-roasted almonds); Pub/Bar: Wine (Amarone); Furniture Maker: Wood (wood spice)

The Dalmore Luminary No. 2 16 Year Old (2024 Edition)

16 Years48.6% ABV2024$330-380

American white oak bourbon, Graham's Tawny Port pipes, Apostoles sherry casks, with rare peated Dalmore spirit

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Deep amber-mahogany with port-wine undertones; full, non-chill filtered body

Smell

Manuka honey, creme brulee, antique leather. Delicate tropical — pomegranate, guava, cherry blossom

Sip

Ripe figs, Seville oranges, forest fruits, passion fruit. Lightly roasted Colombian coffee, fermented black limes, brioche. Very small amount of rare peated Dalmore spirit adds whisper of smoke

Savor

Freshly roasted chestnuts, sweet wood spices, dark cacao, and Alphonso mangoes with delicate whisper of herbal wood smoke. Long and complex

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Sweet Shop: honey, creme brulee, dark cacao; Greengrocer: Tropical (pomegranate, guava, passion fruit, mango), Vine (figs, forest fruits), Citrus (Seville orange); Bakery: Sweet (brioche); Tea/Coffee: Coffee (Colombian coffee); Pub/Bar: Wine (Tawny Port, sherry); Furniture Maker: Wood (wood spice), Leather; Natural Foods: Nuts (roasted chestnuts); Smoke House: Wood/Smoke (herbal wood smoke, subtle); Florist: Fresh Flowers (cherry blossom)

The Dalmore Luminary No. 3 17 Year Old (2025 Edition)

17 Years49.2% ABV2025$370-420

Hand-selected oak casks (details per Dalmore's multi-cask philosophy)

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Deep amber with rich copper tones; full-bodied, non-chill filtered

Smell

Rich and complex with signature Dalmore citrus and dark fruit character

Sip

Multi-cask matured delivering layered complexity. Rich fruit, chocolate, and spice notes characteristic of the Luminary series

Savor

Long and warming with balanced oak influence and lingering sweetness. Third chapter in the V&A Dundee collaboration series

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Sweet Shop: chocolate; Greengrocer: Citrus (orange), Dried (dark fruit); Pub/Bar: Wine (multi-cask); Furniture Maker: Wood (oak); Natural Foods: Spices (warming spice)

The Dalmore Quintessence

NAS45% ABV$900-1100

Five California red wine cask finishes: Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

4/4 Tasting

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Sight

Deep ruby-amber with wine-influenced reddish tones; full, viscous body

Smell

Sweet sherry, ripe cherries, marzipan, and white pepper. Rich and complex with wine-cask influence

Sip

Rich and mouth-coating. Thick-cut orange marmalade, oloroso sherry, malt, and milk chocolate. Five different wine cask finishes create unprecedented complexity

Savor

Gentle warming spice and lingering Jaffa orange. Long and satisfying. Richard Paterson's 50th anniversary masterpiece

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Greengrocer: Vine (cherries), Citrus (orange, Jaffa orange); Sweet Shop: marzipan, milk chocolate; Pub/Bar: Wine (Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, sherry); Bakery: Sweet (orange marmalade); Natural Foods: Spices (white pepper, warming spice)