Dalmore distillery

Dalmore Distillery

Dalmore Distillery reception house in Alness
Region: Highland
Location	Alness
Owner	Whyte and Mackay
Founded	1839
Status	Operational
Water source	Alness river
Number of stills	4 wash 16.500 + 8.250 liters 4 spirit 11.000 +7.300 liters[1]
Capacity	4,200,000 litres
The 12, The 15, The 18, 25
Type	Single Malt
Age(s)	12,[2] 15,[3] 18,[4] 25
ABV	40–43
Dalmore King Alexander III[5]
Type	Single Malt
ABV	40

"The Dalmore" Distillery is located in Alness, which is 20 miles North of Inverness. It sits on the banks of the Cromarty Firth overlooking the Black Isle, the "big meadowland", from which it takes its name.

The Dalmore distillery is owned and operated by Whyte and Mackay Ltd, which is owned by Philippines based Emperador Inc.^[6]

History

The legend of The Dalmore dates back to 1263, when Colin of Kintail, Chief of the clan Mackenzie, saved King Alexander III of Scotland from a charging stag. As a reward the grateful King, granted Colin of Kintail the lands of Eilean Donan, the motto ‘Luceo Non Uro’, which translates to ‘I Shine, Not Burn’ and the right to use the 12-pointed Royal Stag as the Mackenzie clan crest. The distillery itself was established many years later in 1839 by entrepreneur Alexander Matheson, who after 28 years decided it was time to pass the distillery onto new owners. Andrew and Charles Mackenzie came forward, and as members of the clan Mackenzie they brought with them the iconic 12-pointed Royal Stag emblem, the caberfeidh which has adorned every bottle of The Dalmore since.

Process

The award winning distillery creates a number of different whiskies that are produced in a combination of different stills, of various sizes which give the whisky a more complex character.

Each expression of The Dalmore is matured in two different types of wooden casks: American white oak bourbon casks and exclusive aged sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass. Each sherry cask – which is hand selected by master distiller Richard Paterson – gives the whisky a deep copper colour and flavours of crushed almonds, cinnamon, ginger and citrus. The bourbon casks give the whisky notes of vanilla, spice, honey and tropical fruits.

To create a more complex character, selected expressions are finessed in exceptional casks, showcasing woods from world-renowned bodegas and exclusive wineries.

Whiskies

Products currently produced are:

• The Dalmore 12-year-old
• The Dalmore 15-year-old
• The Dalmore Cigar Malt
• The Dalmore 18-year-old
• The Dalmore King Alexander III
• The Dalmore 25-year-old
• The Dalmore Valour – Travel Retail Exclusive
• The Dalmore Constellation Collection
• The Dalmore Richard Paterson Collection

Record price

• On 15 April 2005, a bottle of 62-year-old Dalmore was sold by Denis Barthe, Bar Manager of the Ascot Bar at Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot Surrey, for £32,000. The blend was a mix of five casks, from 1868, 1878, 1922, 1926 and 1939. Only 12 bottles were produced.^[7]
• In 2010 the distillery completed production of Dalmore Trinitas, so called because only three bottles were produced. The first two bottles sold for £100,000 each.^[8] According to the distillery website, the final bottle was sold in Harrods in London for £120,000 in 2011.^[9]
• In 2013, The Dalmore created the Paterson Collection, in homage to its Master Distiller Richard Paterson. The 12 bottle collection went on sale in Harrods for £987,500

References

1. Dalmore distillery
2. Dalmore 12
3. Dalmore 15
4. Dalmore 18
5. Dalmore King Alexander
6. "Philippines firm Emperador buys Whyte & Mackay for £430m"
7. "Record Sale".
8. "World's first whisky bottle to break the six-figure price barrier".
9. "Whisked Away".

External links

• Official website

Coordinates: 57°41′18.28″N 4°14′22.13″W / 57.6884111°N 4.2394806°W