A sherry love affair: The Dalmore unveils new whisky chapters with a limited series and annual favourites

A coveted whisky is a virtue of its journey – a process shaped by both the hands of nature and the craft of men. At The Dalmore, this journey finds its zenith in the art of casking, a step deemed pivotal in shaping the flavour and complexity of the whisky.

From this pursuit of perfection emerges a legacy of the house – globally prized whiskies renowned for their rich expressions. What began as a commitment to the use of ex-sherry casks to deliver unique profiles has evolved into a cornerstone of the distillery’s heritage – one that speaks of foresight and friendships that began some 150 years ago.

THE SANCTITY OF CASKS 

Founded by Sir Alexander Matheson in 1839, The Dalmore distillery represents a pursuit of life’s finer things, specifically the creation of exceptional single malt whisky. Leased to the Mackenzie brothers Andrew and Charles, the 12-point royal stag emblem – bestowed by King Alexander III of Scotland – became the signature of its bottles.

As early as 1874, the brothers believed that the distillery’s whiskies would benefit from carefully selected casks, prompting them to embark on transcontinental journeys in search of stellar casks. This odyssey led them to Jerez de la Frontera in southern Spain, a locale already celebrated for its distinctive fortified wine.

Sherry, with its intricately developed profile, is a testament to the region’s blessed terroir – white Albariza soil evenly distributing moisture and reflecting abundant sunlight onto the grapevines, ensuring a harmonious maturation process. Only sherry produced in this region held the coveted right to the name.

The Mackenzies established close relationships with the local sherry producers, notably Gonzalez Byass, a prominent maker. This collaboration, forged in 1915, endures today, granting The Dalmore exclusive use of some of the most sought-after casks, including the rare 30-year-old Matusalem Oloroso sherry butts.

The alchemy of these two spirits results in The Dalmore’s signature experience: Deep golden colours and uncommon flavours of crushed almonds, cinnamon, ginger and citrus. Every year, expert stewards – master whisky makers Richard Paterson and Gregg Glass of The Dalmore, along with third-generation master distiller Antonio Flores of Gonzalez Byass – meticulously hand-pick every cask.

SIGNATURE SIPS

Connoisseurs have long appreciated this mingling influence of whisky and wine, with ex-sherry casks contributing a flavourful flourish to some of the iconic expressions of The Dalmore.

The 12 Year Old touts two versions: The classic iteration commences its maturation in white oak ex-bourbon casks and is finished in Oloroso sherry casks, while the Dalmore Sherry Select Cask 12 undergoes a nuanced aging process in three different aged Oloroso sherry casks and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. This yields two distinct sips: The former leans assertively into citrus notes, while the latter offers a mix of dark chocolate and crushed almonds, enveloped by caramelised orange, ginger and hints of mango.

To enjoy a multi-cask story, pick up the The Dalmore 15. It luxuriates in American oak ex-bourbon casks for 13 years before spending a year in Matusalem, Apostoles and Amoroso sherry butts. In its final chapter, the whisky undergoes a one-year maturation in a sherry butt to achieve its distinctive flavour profile of chocolate, spice and citrus.

The 18 Year Old and 21 Year Old expressions have consistently earned acclaim, and are especially coveted for their small-scale production and limited quantities. The new Dalmore 18 Year Old is particularly noteworthy. Unlike its predecessors, this annual limited edition begins its maturation journey in American white oak ex-bourbon casks, with a longer finishing in 30-year-old Matusalem Oloroso sherry casks. The outcome is an elevated profile, boasting rare and rich flavours, commemorated with the year of release elegantly embossed on both box and bottle.

Together with the 21 Year Old, the whiskies epitomise the exclusive experience of collectible gems that have matured in some of the world’s rarest sherry casks.

AN EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION

With its emphasis on casking, the distillery is marking its heritage in 2023 with The Dalmore Cask Curation series – a four-year series of limited releases, with each collection featuring three aged whiskies.

The first 150-set Sherry Edition honours the enduring partnership between The Dalmore and Gonzalez Byass.

The collection includes a 26 Year Old, finished in 2002 vintage Oloroso sherry casks, and a 28 Year Old, matured in 30-year-old Matusalem Oloroso sherry casks. Concluding the ensemble is the 43 Year Old, aged in American white oak ex-bourbon casks before a transfer to an exceptionally rare 30-year-old Apostoles sherry cask. Each sip from these bottles resonates with aromatic richness, spanning warm honey, roasted chestnuts, forest fruits, dark chocolate and freshly baked brioche.

Reflective of its long journey in these one-of-a-kind casks, the bottles are presented in a bespoke leather-finished travel case hand-crafted in Florence. The Sherry Edition, in arresting carmine, evokes old-world voyages and comes with its own travel tag.

The release is poised to emulate the success of its collectible predecessors, like The Dalmore Decades No 6 Collection, which commanded a staggering US$1.1 million (S$1.48 million) at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in October.

Even as rare bottles continue to make record-breaking headlines at global auctions, the multi-award-winning distillery – the fastest-growing single malt maker over the last eight years* – persists to push boundaries, winning praise and accolades not just for itself but also for its parent company Emperador Inc, an SGX-listed company.

Find out more about The Sherry Edition.

*IWSR 2021, absolute volume growth, malt Scotch category