The Dalmore 17 Year Old is here, and not to reinvent the wheel. It’s just given it a bit more polish.
The new single malt joins the Principal Collection in the distillery’s signature bottle with the silver stag front and centre, wrapped in a deep purple presentation box with a magnetic closure.
It’s bottled at 42% ABV, in a 70cl format, with an RSP of £175. You’ll be able to buy it soon here.
Sherry cask-aged whisky, done properly
The Dalmore’s relationship with sherry casks is not theoretical. It’s long-standing and tied to a single partner, González Byass, from whom it exclusively sources the casks used here. This whisky is not finished in sherry in the vague, catch-all sense of the word. These three very specific styles of sherry cask each do a very specific job here.
The whisky starts in American white oak bourbon barrels and from there, it moves into a trio of sherry casks. Apostoles for a dash of structure and savoury depth. Amoroso to pull those sweet and dry elements together and keep everything in check. And Matusalem Oloroso for weight, richness and that lingering sweetness.
The big headline, of course, is the age statement. Which only earn their keep when they change the outcome. Here, the extra years give the sherry time to settle into the Dalmore’s naturally robust, fruity new make, rather than sitting on top of it. That house style is still front and centre. Chocolate, orange, soft spice. But it arrives with more weight. For people who already like The Dalmore and want it turned up a notch, not sideways.
The Dalmore 17 Year Old is a new release from the Highland distillery
The Dalmore 17 Year Old Tasting Notes:
Nose: Seville orange, rich orchard fruit and warming wood spice.
Palate: Poached pear, forest berries, sweet toffee and glossy orange marmalade.
Finish: Dark chocolate orange, dried fruit and lingering cinnamon and nutmeg.
