The Dalmore Unveils Its Latest Lineup of Ultra-Luxury Single Malts
When it comes to ultra-premium single malt, few names fit the bill quite like The Dalmore. Its 2021 Decades Collection, consisting of six bottles—distilled between 1951 and 2000—was offered at $200,000. This rare cache of liquid was eventually valued at over $1 million by a winning bidder at a Sotheby’s Hong Kong auction.
Now, the distillery is at it again, with the worldwide release of The Cask Curation Series Sherry Edition. The trio of whiskies in this inaugural chapter is a relative bargain—at just $37,500. Still, you’re probably curious to know what justifies such a juicy price tag. Lucky for you, we’ve got a first look at what’s waiting inside the glass.
What Is The Dalmore Cask Curation Series?
The Cask Curation series will be a once-a-year offering, highlighting the role that a particular sort of barrel plays in formulating the identity of The Dalmore brand.
As you might suspect, Sherry Edition focuses on the famed fortified wine of Southeastern Spain. It’s not just any sherry, however. The whiskies in this set were all entirely influenced by the iconic sherries of Gonzalez Byass, the largest winemaker from Jerez—a bodega with which The Dalmore has enjoyed a century-long partnership.
“What makes this relationship special, is it's built on trust and respect,” says Gregg Glass, master whisky maker and blender at The Dalmore. “They share with us their rarest casks—casks with an interesting life story, spent in the creation of brilliant sherries over 30-plus years. That’s what I'm personally looking for. If that means we only have one single cask available, that’s just part of what makes our whiskies special. We will take that one cask and in Scotland it will live a new life as we use it to mature our whiskies for another 30-plus years.”
The 26-Year-Old
The eldest in this year’s Cask Curation Series is, in fact, a 43-year-old single malt, which was finished in a sherry butt formerly reserved for Gonzalez Byass’ prestigious Apostoles expression. Bottled at an exacting 46.8 percent ABV, it's sturdy and spry, generous with candy-coated citrus in the nose, and fading from the palate in a wash of tropical fruit.
The 28-Year-Old
The middle child is a 28-year-old malt that spent time in extraordinarily exclusive cooperage; a cask plucked from the solera that Gonzalez Byass uses to age its coveted Matusalem range. They’ve been described as “treasure chests of pure liquid gold” by Dalmore’s legendary malt maker Sir Richard Patterson. And they are very rarely allowed to exit the bodega. Atop the whisky, this specific butt layers all things dark—from the mahogany color of the malt to its finish, which is rich in maraschino cherry, molasses, and cacao.
The 26-Year-Old
The youngest of the triptych is by no means the least restrained. Quite the contrary, the 26-year-old scotch, finished in a 2002 vintage sherry cask, might even be the most elegant of the bunch. Stone fruit and melon from the initial sip capitulate to coffee and ginger spice on the back palate.
“It's special—both the whiskies and our friendship with this bodega,” says Margaret “Mags” Nicol, the blend controller for The Dalmore, who's spent 50 years working in the Scotch industry. “When the decision was made to create the Cask Curation Series, Gonzalez Byass had to be the first partner. They are true friends. And good friends make great whisky.”
Related: Review: The Dalmore 14-Year-Old Sherry Cask-Aged Whisky
Sometimes they even share it. Or sherry it, as the case may be. Look for chapter one of the Cask Curation Series to hit shelves later in the month. But be forewarned: Only 150 sets were produced in total. If you miss out, don’t let it get you down: the series will continue next year with a celebration of port.
