Dalmore might just be the most legendary distillery in the world, when it comes to creating stunning whisky with real provenance. Even the distillery itself looks incredible, as it overlooks the Cromarty Firth - an estuary from whose banks rise impressive slopes specked with green thicket and wooded copse.
The classic 12 and 15 year old have long been a mainstay for lovers of rich highland whisky, and the master blender, Richard Paterson, is one of the industry’s best loved celebrities. As well as working at Dalmore, Richard blends for Isle of Jura as well as Whyte and Mackay. Not one to shy from experimentation, he makes use of varying barley strains and age old vintages, which he blends with all the talent of a modern day alchemist.
A recent slew of ultra premium whiskies have cemented the distillery as one with true éclat, and under Paterson we’ve seen record prices paid for super aged drams. In 2002, at McTear’s auction house in Glasgow, £25,877.50 was reached for a 62 year old bottle of Dalmore single malt, setting a new record for the highest price paid for a bottle of Scotch whisky. That was surpassed in 2009 when a whopping £27,600 was reached for Dalmore Oculus, which contained whiskies from 1878, 1922, 1926, 1939 and 1951! Truly a historic single malt…
Dalmore was founded by Alexander Matheson in 1839 and now stands as Whyte and Mackay’s largest distillery as well as being the flagship for the brand. With four pairs of stills, Dalmore has a capacity of 4.2 million litres per annum and operates at near capacity, but still retains its quality and character.
The house style is undeniably one of rich, full-bodied whisky, with orange, chocolate and coffee flavours and Dalmore whisky is regularly enjoyed as a post dinner digestif.