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Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | October 4, 2024

Welcome to Inbox – our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to the WFE email. We started Inbox several years ago as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from arou…

Welcome to Inbox - our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to the WFE email. We started Inbox several years ago as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/ piece of news/ PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information.

Here is a round-up of this week's whisky news.

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The Northern Irish distillery of Bushmills has announced the fifth batch of their highly-acclaimed Causeway Collection. The series of single malts are inspired by The Giant's Causeway, which is located on the Co. Antrim coast and just two miles from the distillery. The 2024 edition features eight whiskies, which include some of Bushmills' rarest spirits, that are aged between 10 and 23 years of age.

The Bushmills Causeway Collection 2024 features three firsts for the brand with the 10 years old Barolo Cask, 2010 Double Moscatel Cask (finished in two different ex-Moscatel casks) and 22 years old Mizunara Oak. Other highlights include the 2011 Oloroso Sherry Cask and 23 years old Madeira Cask. All eight whiskies are bottled at their natural cask strength and are non-chill filtered and of natural colour. Prices range from £76 to £385/ US$100 to US$505. They will be available in selected world markets including China, France, Germany, Ireland, the UK and the USA, plus travel retail.

Bushmills have also announced the latest addition into their travel retail exclusive World Wood Series range - the Bushmills 12 years old PX Casks. It follows 15- and 21-year old expressions released in 2023. This, like the Causeway Collection, has been created by Alex Thomas - the Master Blender for Bushmills. This new whisky has matured for 11 years in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels before a one-year in first and second-fill ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. It is bottled at 46% ABV and will be available in airports throughout Asia. A bottle will cost US$70.

The north Highland distillery of Dalmore has revealed the second trio of whiskies in its Cask Curation Series. The Dalmore Cask Curation Series Port Edition showcases three rare single malts in partnership with Symington Family Estates, the makes of Graham's Port. It features bottlings at 27-, 30- and 43-years of age. Each has been finished in different rare vintage single harvest Tawny Port barrels from Graham's. Further additions to the series will appear in 2025 and 2026.

The Dalmore Cask Curation Port Edition 27 Year Old 1997 Cask Finish has been matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks and then finished in Cask No. 2 – a very rare 1997 Single Harvest Graham's Tawny Port cask. It is bottled at 49.3% ABV. The Dalmore Cask Curation Port Edition 30 Year Old 1994 Cask Finish has been matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks and then finished in Cask No. 3 – a very rare 1994 Single Harvest Graham's Tawny Port cask. It is bottled at 43.9% ABV.

The Dalmore Cask Curation Port Edition 43 Year Old 1952 Cask Finish has been matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks and then finished in Cask No. 1 – a 1952 Single Harvest Graham's Tawny Port cask. It is bottled at 41.8% ABV. All are non-chillfiltered and of natural colour. The trio will only be sold as a set, and this will cost £35,000.

The independent Scottish distiller of Eden Mill has partnered with a local salt company to create a sugar syrup aimed at cocktail aficionados and bartenders. The Eden Mill Smoked Salt Sugar Syrup sees the Lowland distillery collaborate with fellow Fife business East Neuk Salt Company to create an ingredient to add depth to your favourite cocktail or mocktail.

The hand-harvested sea salt flakes, which are 100% organic, were smoked on former Eden Mill single malt whisky barrel staves. The staves were also used to smoke the sugar used to make the syrup. The syrup is available from Eden Mill's two retail stores in Edinburgh and St. Andrew's, plus via www.edenmill.com - here there is a deal where each bottle of The Guard Bridge blended malt will come with a free bottle of the syrup for a limited period.

The Islay farm distillery of Kilchoman has launched a new limited that has been fully matured in ex-Port casks. The Kilchoman Port Cask Matured is the third such release and the oldest such release to date. The inaugural Port Cask Matured was released in 2014 and the second in 2018. The 2024 edition has been matured for a minimum of six years in re-fill ex-Port barrels. This new bottling will be available in selected specialist whisky retailers worldwide. The whisky is released at 50% ABV and a bottle will cost £88.

The Lowland distillery of Kingsbarns has bottled its oldest ever single malt to date with their latest limited edition release. The Kingsbarns Distillery Reserve 2024 is bottled at 8 years old and has been fully matured in ex-Oloroso sherry casks. It is released in its purest form - at the natural cask strength of 58.2% ABV, non-chill filtered and natural colour. There will be just 3,000 bottles and these will be available via the brand website www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com and the distillery shop in Fife from October 16. A bottle will cost £75.

The Kentucky distillery of Michter's has launched two expressions into its rare Legacy Series - the Bomberger’s Declaration Bourbon and Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash. In 1753, Swiss farmer John Shenk founded Shenk’s distillery in Pennsylvania. This distillery was later renamed Bomberger’s distillery in the 1800s before its name changed again to Michter’s in the mid-20th Century. This heritage is what the Michter’s Legacy Series honours.

Bomberger’s Declaration Bourbon (pictured, above right) is a Kentucky straight bourbon with a high malted rye percentage in the recipe and is aged in rare Chinquapin oak barrels. It is bottled at 54% ABV. Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey (pictured, above left) is a Kentucky rye whiskey that has matured in French oak casks. It is bottled at 45.6% ABV. Both whiskeys are now available in limited quantities and cost £120.

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | September 6, 2024

Here is a round-up of this week's whisky news.

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The north Highland distillery of Dalmore has released three whiskies into a new collection - Dalmore The Distillery Select Series. New expressions will be added annually. The 2024 Edition features rare samples of casks laid down in specific cask types and includes the 2009 Vintage Sherry Cask Finish, 2007 Vintage Amarone & Port Cask Finishes and the 2000 Vintage Calvados Cask Finish. All are bottled at cask strength and are both non-chill filtered and of natural colour.

The Dalmore 2009 Vintage Sherry Cask Finish is bottled at 15 years old and features a finish in ex-sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass in Spain. It is released at 52.8% ABV and there are just 2,736 bottles. Each will cost £300. The Dalmore 2007 Vintage Amarone & Port Cask Finishes features a duo of cask finishes - ex-Amarone red wine from Italy and ex-Port wine from Portugal. There are just 918 bottles at 45.8% ABV. Each bottle will cost £1,000.

The Dalmore 2000 Vintage Calvados Cask Finish is bottled at 24 years old and 50.3% ABV. Initial maturation was in American white oak ex-bourbon casks before a finishing period in ex-Calvados barrels sourced from the House of Drouin in France. There are just 383 bottles and each will cost £5,000. All will be available in Dalmore Boutiques around the globe, plus in specialist and luxury retailers. For more information, please visit www.thedalmore.com.

The Indian single malt brand of Rampur has announced the latest additions to its limited edition Jugalbandi series. The Rampur Jugalbandi #5 and #6 have been distilled at the Rampur distillery in the Himalayan foothills and created by Anup Barik, the brand's Master Blender. Jugalbandi translates as 'entwined twins' and refers to a traditional Indian musician and their instrument playing in harmony.

The Rampur Jugalbandi #5 (pictured, above left) has been initially matured in ex-bourbon barrels before a finishing period in ex-Tokaji wine casks from Hungary. It is bottled at 55.6% ABV. The Rampur Jugalbandi #6 (pictured, above right) has seen full maturation in ex-Madeira wine barrels. It is bottled at 55.8% ABV. Both will retail at £400 per bottle and be available in selected world markets including Europe, Singapore, the UK, the USA and global travel retail.

The luxury single cask single malt bottler of Ferg & Harris have launched five new whiskies into their 2024 collection. Each features a special cask finish and is bottled at the natural cask strength. They will be available to purchase from www.fergandharris.co.uk and selected independent whisky retailers. The list of the five bottlings and details are listed below:

Tormore 11 years old / Speyside/ 63.3% ABV/ ex-bourbon, finished in virgin oak/ 205 bottles/ £90
Longmorn 12 years old / Speyside/ 58.8% ABV/ ex-bourbon, finished in ex-white Port/ 288 bottles/ £125
Bunnahabhain 14 years old / Islay/ 54.7% ABV/ ex-Oloroso sherry, finished in ex-Sauternes/ 281 bottles/ £140
Craigellachie 15 years old / Speyside/ 64.2% ABV/ ex-Amontillado sherry, finished in virgin oak/ 284 bottles/ £130
Craigellachie 15 years old / Speyside/ 63.1% ABV/ ex-Amontillado sherry, finished in ex-white Port/ 279 bottles/ £130.

The Islay distillery of Ardbeg has announced the rebirth of a classic - the Ardbeg 17 years old. The returning whisky will be limited edition and exclusive to Ardbeg Committee members. The original Ardbeg 17 years old was released in 1997 shortly after the distillery reopened, but was retired in 2004. Now 20 years later, a complete replica is back.

The whisky has been created by Gillian Macdonald, Ardbeg's Master Blender, and matured in ex-bourbon barrels. It is bottled at 40% ABV, just as the original was. Ardbeg 17 years old 2024 Edition will be available to Ardbeg Committee members only via www.ardbeg.com, the distillery visitor centre shop and in Ardbeg Embassies worldwide. A bottle will cost £160.

The Speyside distillery of Tamdhu has announced a new rare whisky collection and the first bottling in that collection. The Tamdhu Dedication Collection kicks off with the release of Tamdhu 43 years old. The whisky is a combination of three ex-Oloroso sherry casks that were distilled and filled in 1978 and 1979. It is presented in a hand-blown crystal decanter, which is individually numbered, and housed within a hand-built octagonal wooden casket. Tamdhu 43 years old is bottled at 50.8% ABV and there are just 100 bottles available. It will be on sale from late-September via specialist and luxury retailers. A bottle will cost £13,500.

"At Tamdhu, our whisky is the ultimate artistic expression. So to launch this landmark collection we did not want to get side-tracked by gimmicks. Or look away from our whisky. Because it is there, in the spirit itself, where you see our craft, passion and dedication."
Sandy McIntyre | Distillery Manager at Tamdhu.

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Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | April 5, 2024

Inbox has taken a two-week break while we were away on a much needed holiday. Here is a round-up of the whisky news that has landed since the last edition ...

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The independent bottler of Gordon & Macphail has launched the fourth whisky in its Mr. George Legacy series. The series honours George Urqhart, a legendary figure in Gordon & Macphail's history and widely regarded as 'the father of Scotch single malt'. The bottling features a single first-fill ex-sherry butt that was filled at Glen Grant distillery in 1958, nurtured by G&M for 65 years and then bottled in November 2023. It is released at 56.5% ABV and will cost £7,500.

The Spirit of Yorkshire have announced their first special release of the year - the Filey Bay Porter Cask. The new limited edition features spirit distilled in 2018 and filled to ex-bourbon casks that had previously held Rip Curl porter from the brand's sister brewery, Top Wold. In turn, Rip Curl had been matured for 15 months in ex-Filey Bay casks. There are just 2,000 bottles. It is released at 50% ABV and will cost £80.

The Irish single pot still brand of Redbreast has released the fourth whiskey into its Iberian Series - the Redbreast Cuatro Bariles Edition. The new bottling will be exclusive to the travel retail sector. It features a combination of four distinct cask types - ex-bourbon, Spanish oak ex-sherry butts, ex-Tawny Port hogsheads and European virgin oak. It is bottled at 46% ABV and will cost €108.

The Islay farm distillery of Kilchoman have announced a new addition to their core range - the Kilchoman Batch Strength. It joins the Machir Bay and Sanaig expressions. The whisky has been matured in a combination of re-charred ex-red wine casks, ex-Oloroso sherry butts and ex-bourbon barrels. It has been bottled at 57% ABV and will be available worldwide. A bottle will cost £65.

The Highland distillery of Dalmore has launched the second bottling of its prestigious Luminary Series. The Dalmore Luminary - The Rare 2024 Edition has seen Gregg Glass, Master Whisky Maker at Dalmore, and Richard Paterson OBE, Master Distiller at Dalmore, collaborate with Melodie Leung, Director at Zaha Hadid Architects. Leung created the extraordinary sculptural housing for the bottle.

The Rare comprises of a 49-year old whisky, matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks and finished in a blend of Port Colheita 1963, Apostoles sherry, ex-bourbon and a unique 1951/virgin oak hybrid cask. Just one bottle exists and will be auctioned by Sotherby's in May. All proceeds will go to the V&A Dundee.

Alongside The Rare bottling, another has been released for worldwide distribution. The Dalmore Luminary - The Collectible 2024 Edition features a small percentage of rare peated Dalmore spirit. The whisky is bottld at 16 years old and has been matured in ex-bourbon and ex-Apostoles sherry casks, plus ex-Tawny Port pipes. There are 20,000 bottles and each will retail for £275.

The Speyside distillery of Glenallachie has released a trio of ex-sherry cask whiskies in its Wood Collection series. A second trio will be released later in 2024. The Glenallachie 'Sherry Series' Wood Collection features three single malts at nine years of age - the Fino Cask Finish, Amontillado Cask Finish and Oloroso Cask Finish. All are bottled at 48% ABV and are both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. Each will cost £60.

The Danish whisky brand of Stauning has launched a new hybrid whisky featuring single malt and rye. Stauning HØST (pronounced 'hurst' and meaning 'harvest' in Danish) pays homage to the turning seasons and local cereals used to produce the whisky. The single malt and rye whiskies have been matured in ex-bourbon casks with a small percentage of ex-Port barrels. The new expression is bottled at 40.5% ABV and is expected to retail for £45.

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Review | Dalmore Vintage 2005 & Vintage 2008

This pair of single malts are this year’s bottlings in the annual Vintages Collection from the north Highland distillery of Dalmore. The Dalmore Vintage 2005 and Dalmore Vintage 2008 are the third such pair to be released in to the prestigious series. …

This pair of single malts are this year's bottlings in the annual Vintages Collection from the north Highland distillery of Dalmore. The Dalmore Vintage 2005 and Dalmore Vintage 2008 are the third such pair to be released in to the prestigious series. As with the two previous bottlings, the whiskies have been created by Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE and whisky maker Gregg Glass and use some of the finest casks available from Dalmore's warehouses.

Dalmore is located in the north Highland village of Alness. It sits on the shores of the Cromarty Firth and overlooks the Black Isle. The distillery was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson and has an interesting history, including being used during the First World War by the Royal Navy to manufacture explosives. The current capacity of the distillery is just over four million litres per year, although this is currently being expanded. Dalmore is currently owned by Whyte & Mackay, part of the larger Phillipines-based Emperador Inc.

The Dalmore Vintage 2008 (pictured, above right) is bottled at 15 years of age and began life matured in American white oak ex-bourbon casks before a secondary maturation in ex-Matusalem and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. It is released at 45.8% ABV and will retail for £155/ $US225.

The Dalmore Vintage 2005 (pictured, above left) is released at 18 years old. It again started life in American white oak ex-bourbon casks. This time the secondary maturation was in ex-Matusalem and ex-Vintage 2005 sherry casks. It is bottled at 49.3% ABV and will cost £350/ $US450. Both whiskies are non chill-filtered and of natural colour, and will be available via specialist and luxury retailers worldwide.

Our Tasting Notes

Dalmore Vintage 2005

The colour is coppery gold and the nose is sweet, sugary and rich. Aromas of vanilla custard, brown sugar and raisin are complimented by almond marzipan, hazelnut praline and hard toffee. Underneath sits a further nutty quality - this is reminiscent of brazil nuts - plus a hint of orange oil and caramelised apple.

On the palate this whisky has a wonderful mouth coating quality. The sweet dried fruits come through first, along with the crumbly brown sugar and slightly bitter orange oil - think of raisin, sultana and a hint of date. There is a distinct sweet green apple note too, which is reminiscent of the caramelised apple from the nose or fairground toffee apple. Then come the delicious vanilla custard and hazelnut praline characteristics. They seem to accentuate the juicy plump sultana note in particular. Late warming wood spices, especially cinnamon and a scratch of nutmeg, develop well and sit alongside a lovely drying oaky note.

Dalmore Vintage 2008

The colour is a vibrant gold and the nose is packed with luscious dried fruits and rich, sweet aromas - imagine raisin, sultana and candied orange peel combined with toffee, caramel and a hint of black treacle. There is also plenty of vanilla on show, plus a hint of toasted hazelnut and a pinch of baking spice.

On the palate this whisky is silky and soft with a bold dried fruitiness and richness. Juicy sultana and brandy-soaked raisins lead the way and are joined by hints of prune and candied orange peel. Sweet, crumbly brown sugar and caramel back this fruitiness up and are joined by suggestions of treacle tart and ginger cake. The mix is heady and sumptuous. Underneath sits further notes of tart green apple, toasted hazelnut and butterscotch sauce over good vanilla ice cream. A pinch of cinnamon and some crystallised ginger also sit in the background, as does a hint of slightly charred oak. All give extra depth and a hint of warmth.

What's The Verdict?

These are two superb whiskies from Dalmore but ones that push the spirit in slightly different directions. The ages are not that dissimilar, yet the casking has led to two quite different flavour profiles. The Vintage 2008 is big, bold and rich with the Pedro Ximenez cask in particular seeming to come through well. The Vintage 2005 is more elegant, while retaining some of that richness. The vanilla custard and hazelnut praline notes are especially pleasing. Both are delicious and it is difficult to choose a favourite. So we will not and just enjoy both.

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News (November 3, 2023)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information.

Here is this week's whisky news ...

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Dalmore

The north Highland distillery of Dalmore has announced details of this year's bottlings in its annual Vintages Collection - the Dalmore Vintage 2005 and Dalmore Vintage 2008. The pair of new whiskies are the third to be reelased in to the prestigious series. As with the two previous entries, the whiskies have been created by Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE and whisky maker Gregg Glass and use some of the finest casks available from Dalmore's warehouses.

The Dalmore Vintage 2005 (pictured, above left) is released at 18 years old. It again started life in American white oak ex-bourbon casks. This time the secondary maturation was in ex-Matusalem and ex-Vintage 2005 sherry casks. It is bottled at 49.3% ABV and will cost £350/ $US450. Both whiskies are non chill-filtered and of natural colour, and will be available via specialist and luxury retailers worldwide.

Glasgow

The Glasgow Distillery Co. has announced limited edition batches of two of their most popular bottlings - the Glasgow 1770 Peated Cask Strength Batch 01 and Glasgow 1770 The Original Cask Strength Batch 01. The pair are designed to give whisky fans a glimpse at the unadulterated raw power and character of the Glasgow spirit straight from the barrel.

The Glasgow 1770 The Original Cask Strength Batch 01 (pictured, above left) has seen three ex-bourbon casks of The Original selected and married together. This has resulted in just 750 bottles at a natural strength of 61.3% ABV. A bottle will cost £64.

The Glasgow 1770 Peated Cask Strength Batch 01 (pictured, above right) has seen three hogshead casks selected and married together, resulting in 1,000 bottles. This is released at 60.8% ABV and will cost £66 per bottle. Both are non chill-filtered and of natural colour. They will be available from www.glasgowdistillery.com and selected specialist retailers in the UK. A small allocation will also be available in selected Asian and European markets.

Talisker

The Hebridean distillery of Talisker on the isle of Skye has announced their latest rare limited edition - the Talisker Glacial Edge 45 years old. The new whisky was aged for over four decades before being finished in ice fractured oak casks. This experimental approach saw 12 heavily charred American oak casks taken to Canada, where a cooper removed the ends. The casks were then exposed to the freezing winter temperatures and Arctic winds for 96 hours.

Talisker Glacial Edge is the first-ever Talisker to be aged for 45 years and is the final bottling in a series that is helping to raise money for conservation charity Parley For The Oceans. It is bottled at 49.8% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. It is available from specialist whisky and luxury retailers worldwide and will cost £4,500/ $US5,575.

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Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (October 20, 2023)

Here is this week's whisky news ...

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Dalmore

The Highland distillery of Dalmore has launched a new four-part series of single malts and announced the inaugural bottlings. The Dalmore Cask Curation Series will highlight the brands long-standing working relationships around the world and kicks off with The Sherry Edition. A new edition will appear annually in 2024, 2025 and finish in 2026. The 2023 trio of whiskies sees a partnership with sherry bodega Gonzalez Byass.

The trio of whiskies have been created by whisky makers Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE alongside Antonio and Silvia Flores from Gonzalez Byass. The first is bottled at 26 years old and has been finished in a rare Gonzalez Byass 2002 cask. The whisky was distilled in 1996 and is bottled at 48.2% ABV.

This is joined by a 28 years old finished in a very rare 30 years old Matusalem sherry cask. It was distilled in 1994 and is bottled at 55.3% ABV. The final whisky is a 43 years old finished in a very rare 30 year old Apostoles sherry cask. It was distilled in 1979 and is released at 46.8% ABV. All three began life in American oak ex-bourbon barrels and are released non chill-filtered and of natural colour.

The set is presented in three decanters, which are housed in a bespoke travel case crafted in Florence, Italy. There are just 150 sets with bottles not available individually. The Dalmore Cask Curation Series Sherry Edition will be available in selected specialist and luxury retailers worldwide. Each set will cost £30,000/ $US37,500/ €35,500.

Lochlea

The Ayrshire farm distillery of Lochlea has revealed its latest seasonal bottling - Lochlea Fallow Edition (Second Crop). The new whisky has been matured exclusively in ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. This is in the ratio of 45% and 55% respectively. The Fallow Edition pays homage to the period of the year where farmland naturally rejuvenates itself after crops have been harvested.

The whisky has been created by John Campbell, the Director of Production at Lochlea. The Lochlea Fallow Edition (Second Crop) is bottled at 46% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. It will be available via specialist retailers in selected world markets from October 26. A bottle will cost £52.

"Fallow season within our farming calendar is a vital time of year for us to regenerate the land ready for our barley to grow well in the spring and summer. This release is important to us, as it gives a chance to tell the story of the farm and explain some of our sustainable practices."
Neil McGeoch / Co-founder of Lochlea.

White Peak

The English distillery of White Peak has announced their latest limited edition single malt - the Wire Works Virgin Oak. The bottling is planned to become a core product in time. The whisky is in the distillery's signature lightly peated style and saw initial maturation in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels. This was then finished for several months in virgin American oak barrels with differing toasting and charring levels. There are just 2,769 bottles. Wire Works Virgin Oak is released at 50.5% ABV and is available from today (October 20) at the distillery shop, White Peak website and selected UK specialist retailers. A bottle will cost £67.

"In our latest release, we are giving whisky enthusiasts the opportunity to savour the unique flavours of our lightly-peated spirit and explore the journey our whisky has taken in new wood. Matured in virgin oak casks from the renowned Kelvin Cooperage and with a selection of char levels, this vatting introduces a delightful range of flavours."
Claire Vaughan / Co-founder of White Peak.

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Distillery Visit / Dalmore

The Dalmore distillery and its range of single malts are held in high regard by whisky drinkers and collectors alike. Sitting in a gorgeous location on the shores of the Cromarty Firth and looking across to the Black Isle, this north Highland distiller…

The reason - a combination of the recent Covid pandemic and forthcoming planned extension work that will see the production capacity doubled. We were delighted to receive an invite to visit last November.

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Dalmore was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson and is located in the small Highland town of Alness, which is around 35 minutes drive north of Inverness. The name translates from the local Gaelic as 'big meadow' and the water used in production is taken from the nearby Loch Morie. This flows the 10 miles from the loch to the distillery via the River Averon.

However, maybe the most significant date in Dalmore's history came in 1867. This saw Andrew and Charles Mackenzie begin work at the distillery. The brothers would eventually become sole owners in 1891. With them they brought their family emblem - the 12-point stag. This has become synonymous with Dalmore and stems from a story dating back to 1263. Then the Chief of the Clan Mackenzie, Colin of Kintail, saved King Alexander III from a marauding stag. The King was indebted to the Chief and awarded the Mackenzie family the symbol of the beast.

A copy of a painting showing Colin of Kintail saving King Alexander III is on display in the visitor centre.

Other historical interest centres around the First World War when the Royal Navy commissioned Dalmore for the manufacture of explosives. Its remote location and close proximity to the Cromarty Firth, the deepest sea loch in the UK, made it a perfect spot. Dalmore is currently owned by Whyte & Mackay, part of the larger Phillipines-based Emperador Inc. They own the Whyte & Mackay blended whisky brand, plus the single malt distilleries of Fettercairn, Jura and Tamnavulin.

The day of our mid-November visit to Dalmore was what the locals describe as driech - think of a mix of dreary and bleak. As we set off on the distillery tour under a heavy grey sky, the wind and rain were being channeled straight down the Cromarty Firth at us. We were definitely glad of our warm clothing, that was for sure.

A driech day on the Firth.

Dalmore's building look very traditional from the outside with many dating back from the late-Victorian era. Most will thankfully remain after the site has been renovated and expanded over the next couple of years. First stop is the old red Porteus mill, which has been in situ for 75 years but will shortly be retired. These mills are so sturdy and rarely break down - this was to the detriment of Porteus, who actually went bust due to the longevity and reliability of their products.

Porteus mills - they never break down.

Up a short flight of metal stairs is the mash tun. This is large and made of stainless steel, and sits in a room that looks like it was built to house two of them. Each mash, of which there are currently 23 per week, uses 10.4 tonnes of milled malted barley. This is all sourced within a 50-mile radius of the distillery, especially from the nearby Black Isle, and is malted at Bairds Maltings in Arbroath. Three temperatures of water are added for maximum sugar extraction, with the first being at 63.5°C - the golden number for enzyme activation. The final water goes in at 85°C and each mash takes five hours.

The mash tun and underback.

Each batch of wort from the mash tun is sent ot one of eight wooden washbacks. These are made of Oregon pine and have a capacity of 48,000 litres. Once the creamed yeast is added, Dalmore ferment the liquid for 50 hours. The result is a wash that sits at around 8% ABV and resembles (and tastes like) a strong weissbier. Unusually, there are no switch blades connected to the washbacks. This device spins around to cut through and knock down the foam created by the fermentation process and is found at most distilleries.

The wooden washbacks.

The short trip brings you into the still house in an unusual way - you walk in directly over four of the stills giving a unique bird's eye view. This is even more unique given the design of Dalmore's stills. They have copper water jackets surrounding the neck of the stills. These are filled with water and have coiled tubing immersed in it. This design increases reflux and copper contact within each still by around 20%. This system is incorporated on each of the four spirit stills.

Water jackets on the spirit stills (back left and front right).

The pair of original stills were installed when the distillery was founded in 1839. They were joined by two exact copies in the late Victorian era and by four further stills in the 1960s. These are twice the size of the originals and take longer to produce the final spirits run - 8-9 hours versus 4-5 hours for the small stills. Each still has an unusual horizontal tube condenser, which acts in a similar way to a traditional wormtub. We have not seen this before. The combination of the water jackets and horizontal condensers contribute to Dalmore's robust and fruity character.

One of the horizontal condensors

It is at this point that our tour takes a different direction to the regular distillery tour. Our group was taken to one of the warehouses - Warehouse No.4 to be exact - and were joined by Richard Paterson OBE, the legendary Master Blender and figurehead of Dalmore, and Gregg Glass, Master Whisky Maker for owners Whyte & Mackay. This was a real treat. The warehouse is located right next to the sea and the coastal environment and dampness works its way into the pores of the wooden casks.

Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE.

Richard explained to us that November was a particularly good time to assess casks in the Dalmore warehouses. The climate and humidity is perfect for analysing the maturing liquid. After this time the warehouse becomes too cold in the wintery conditions and they cannot get the same sensory performance.

The warehouse is filled with traditional styles and sizes of cask, as are all of Dalmore's warehouse. These are predominantly ex-bourbon or ex-sherry casks made of American oak and ranging from hogshead to butt in size. All Dalmore spirit starts life in ex-bourbon for an average of 5-6 years before being transferred to a different type of cask. All whisky destined to be bottled as Dalmore are matured at Dalmore or at Invergordon single grain distillery, which is located a short distance up the coast.

A sample straight from a Matusalem sherry cask.

We were also taken to Warehouses Nos. 2 and 3. These also sit right on the shores of the Cromarty Firth. Richard and Gregg treated the group to some samples from differing casks with highlights being sips of whisky matured in ex-Port, vintage sherry and Matusalem sherry. The latter is the result of a relationship with famous sherry bodega Gonzalez Byass in Jerez, Spain. This has spanned over a century and sees Gonzalez Byass send Dalmore some of their oldest, rarest and finest casks. The drams certainly warmed us up on a freezing cold day.

Our final treat was a tasting of the two new Vintage 2022 Editions in the original Mackenzie Brothers office within the distillery. These were released shortly after our visit. Both are limited editions and used casks hand selected from the warehouses by Richard and Gregg during November 2021. To read our full review with tasting notes of the Dalmore 2003 Vintage and Dalmore 2007 Vintage - click here.

The Dalmore 2003 Vintage and 2007 Vintage.

Visitor Information

Dalmore is currently closed to visitors due to planned renovation and expansion work. It is not due to open for tours until 2025.

Our Top 10 Whiskies of 2022

This is always our favourite post to write each year. The Top 10 is something we first began way back in 2009 and within it we celebrate the finest new whisky releases of that calendar year. Our first selection crowned Benromach 10 years old as our Whi…

However, some time ago we decided to no longer give a top prize. Instead, each of the ten whiskies that we have chosen is a winner in its own right and for differing reasons. As the world continued to come out of the Covid-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions in 2022, the whisky world responded with some excellent releases. It has been difficult to select just ten to be honest, given that we have sampled close to 150 whiskies this year.

As with all Top 10 selections, the choices are subjective. Everyone will pick a different set of whiskies to feature and that is what makes the industry so interesting and diverse. Our only criteria was that each whisky was released during the year. What would you pick as your favourite of 2022? Let us know in the comments please - we would love to hear.

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Our Top 10

Ardbeg Hypernova

This Ardbeg Committee exclusive was trumpeted as the Islay distillery's smokiest ever bottling. Hypernova did not disappoint and took the single malt to impressive new heights with peating levels of over 170ppm (regular Ardbeg is around 55-60ppm). Pungent earthy, ashy and coastal notes gave Hypernova, an evolution of the previous cult classic Supernova, plenty of power and boldness. Howver, the release showed that you can have heavily peated whiskies that are balanced with other characteristics. We hope that Ardbeg release something similar to a wider audience in the future so more can taste it.

Benromach 40 years old (2022 Edition)

The family-owned traditional Speyside distillery of Benromach has long been a favourite of ours. This exquisite antique expression is just the second ever release of a 40-year old by the brand and its oldest to date. It was created from a handful of ex-sherry casks selected by Keith Cruickshank, the Distillery Manager. This resulted in just 1,000 bottles at natural cask strength and with a price tag of £1,000 each.

Layer upon layer of delicious notes married together to give a stunning whisky, which sits at a reasonable price compared to competitor's similar releases in our view. Rich caramel, orange marmalade and expressive baking spices mingle superbly with clove, hazelnut, cherry and a faint whisp of gentle peat smoke. Totally sublime.

Bushmills 1997 Rum Cask

This 25-year old single malt from Northern Ireland marked the most recent expansion of the Bushmills Causeway Collection - a series of whiskeys named after the iconic Giant's Causeway that sits on the Co. Antrim coast just a couple of miles from the distillery. The use of ex-rum casks is nothing new in the whisky industry and has been increasing in recent years. But what is new is to mature a spirit for so long in one - this was distilled in 1997 and filled straight to ex-rum casks from the Caribbean, where it remained for a quarter of a century. Sweet, subtle, floral and grassy with a lovely background maltiness. Delicious.

Craigellachie 13 years old Armagnac Cask Finish

Much like with the use of ex-rum casks, maturation in ex-Cognac and ex-Armagnac barrels from France is on the increase. We have sampled some mixed results but few have been better than this inaugural release in the Speyside distillery's Cask Collection series. French oak former Bas-Armagnac casks sourced from the Gascony region have been used here to give a delightful finish. This is sweet, fruity, biscuity and spicy with notes of apricot, spiced pear, vanilla and sultana, plus a hint of gingerbread. Craigellachie has set the bar high for the rest of the series.

Dalmore 21 years old

In the middle of the year Dalmore released this beauty. The new 21 years old was designed to sit atop the north Highland distillery's core Principal Collection range. After initial maturation in American white oak barrels, the whisky then saw a lengthy 36 month finishing period in rare ex-Matusalem Oloroso sherry casks from the legendary Gonzalez Byass bodega in Jerez, Spain. This is a big whisky that is packed with flavour, depth and complexity. It has a great vibarncy for something of this age. A great whisky but a sadly bit pricey against its competitors.

Gold Spot 9 years old

Irish whiskey has had another big year with the big boys and new craft distilleries alike releasing some absolute gems. This limited addition to The Spot Family from Irish Distillers was fabulous and marked the 135th anniversary of bottling partners Mitchell & Sons, the famous Dublin wine and spirits merchants, entering the whisky bonding game in 1887. Gold Spot is an intriguing marriage of cask types – ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, ex-Bordeaux red wine and ex-Port - give a delicious mix of tropical fruit, apricot jam, golden syrup and vanilla sugar with hints of cinnamon, red apple and gingerbread. Such a good pot still whiskey.

Lagavulin 14 years old Islay Jazz Festival Edition 2022

The Islay distillery of Lagavulin has been sponsoring the famous whisky island's annual jazz festival for close to two decades now. Each year they bottle a special limited edition for those attending and this year was no different. If we had a Top 3, then this fantastic whisky would be in it. There were just 3,000 cask strength bottles that were only available from the distillery. This 14 years old saw maturation in re-fill American oak ex-bourbon barrels before a five year finishing period in ex-brandy casks. The result was stunning. Rich peat smoke is complimented by luscious plump dried fruits and an elegant refined sweetness.

Loch Lomond Distillery Edition 9 years old

The distillery of Loch Lomond in the southern Highlands has always somehow slid under our radar. Until now. This superb release is one that makes us want to sample and investigate more expressions. Born out of a partnership that explored the use of different yeast strains with artisan bakery Bread Ahead, this Distillery Edition marked the first bottling in the new Remarkable Makers series.

This single cask and cask strength beauty was made from wash fermented with Chardonnay wine yeast and the result is wonderful. Zesty and zingy notes dance over your nostrils and tongue alongside further notes of honey, apricot jam and white chocolate. Maybe it is the power of suggestion, but there is an evolving yeastiness present too. Add in a pinch of baking spice and hint of clove also.

The Singleton of Glen Ord Celebratory Edition

The Singleton brand just seems to keep growing. This limited edition was released mid-year to celebrate the opening of an innovative new visitor centre at the Glen Ord distillery in the north Highlands. It also signalled the final act of Maureen Robinson, Singleton's legendary Master Blender, who retired shortly afterwards. A dozen second-fill ex-sherry casks show off Glen Ord's distinctive fruity character. And it worked superbly. The spirit shines with delicious notes of green apple, freshly cut grass, butterscotch and zesty lemon. So elegant.

Whistlepig Piggyback 6 years old

Another entry from the middle of the year saw premium American rye whiskey brand Whistlepig breaking new ground. The Vermont-based distillery has won many awards worldwide but wanted to give consumers a more economical option to their often expensive range. Piggyback was the result but with none of the brand’s quality compromised. It represents the youngest offering in the range and was designed for bartenders and cocktail making. Notes of vanilla, maple syrup and coconut mingle with black cherry, peppery spices and a hint of cola bottle sweets. Watch out for the rise of rye in the coming year or two.

Honourable mentions

As mentioned, we found it very difficult to narrow down our selection to just ten whiskies. Each has its own excellent features, but others that did not wuite make it deserve a mention. Two Irish whiskeys of note were the Midleton Very Rare 2022 Edition, the latest in a long line of such releases dating back to 1984, and the Jameson Remastered 15 years old Single Pot Still, the inaugural bottling in the Jameson Anthology series.

Scotch had a strong year with limited editions such as the Glendronach Cask Strength Batches 10 and 11 being joined by Bladnoch Alinta, the Lowland distillery's first ever smoky release, and Glenallachie 8 years old. Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Finish and Smokehead Twisted Stout both continued to push the boundaries of cask finishing.

The year also saw some new craft distilleries bottling their first whisky. The English charge was led by London's Bimber and their London Underground series (the Camden Town ex-Amontillao sherry cask finish was our particular favourite) and White Peak from Derbyshire. Their Wire Works First Release was one of the best and most promising inaugural releases we have experienced. Similar goes for Ayrshire's Lochlea and their First Release.

Review / Dalmore 2007 Vintage & 2003 Vintage

This pair of whiskies are the latest new limited editions from the north Highland distillery of Dalmore. The Dalmore 2003 Vintage (pictured, above left) and 2007 Vintage (pictured, above right) represent the second bottlings in the Dalmore Vintage Coll…

This pair of whiskies are the latest new limited editions from the north Highland distillery of Dalmore. The Dalmore 2003 Vintage (pictured, above left) and 2007 Vintage (pictured, above right) represent the second bottlings in the Dalmore Vintage Collection. Both whiskies have been created from casks hand-selected by pioneering whisky maker Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE, Master Blender for Dalmore.

Dalmore is located in the village of Alness to the north of Inverness. It sits on the shores of the Cromarty Firth and overlooks the Black Isle. The distillery was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson and has an interesting history, including being used during the First World War by the Royal Navy to manufacture explosives. The current capacity of the distillery is just over four million litres per year. Dalmore is currently owned by Whyte & Mackay, part of the larger Phillipines-based Emperador Inc. They own the Whyte & Mackay blended whisky brand, plus the single malt distilleries of Fettercairn, Jura and Tamnavulin.

The Dalmore 2003 Vintage is bottled at 18 years of age and 46.9% ABV. Initial maturation was in American oak ex-bourbon barrels before being transferred to a carefully selected set of casks including ex-Riversaltes sweet wine, ex-Matusalem and ex-Amoroso sherry, and small-batch ex-bourbon. Just five casks were used for the release. A bottle will cost £350/ US$430.

The Dalmore 2007 Vintage is bottled at 15 years of age and 46.5% ABV. Again, initial maturation was in American oak ex-bourbon casks. The whisky was later transferred to a combination of ex-Matusalen, ex-Apostoles and ex-Amoroso sherry casks and ex-Madeira sweet wine barrels. Just 12 casks were used for the release. A bottle will cost £150/ US$185. Both bottlings are available via specialist and luxury retailers in selected world markets.

Our tasting notes

Dalmore 2003 Vintage

The colour is deep gold, almost amber, and the nose is rich but elegant. Aromas of manuka honey, orange zest and cinnamon spice lead the way. Hints of tropical fruit and cocoa powder sit in the background.

On the palate this whisky has an oily and velvety texture, and clings to the tastebuds. The manuka honey note is again prominent and is joined by some distinctly fruity top notes - think of tropical fruit plus baked apple, raisin, sultana and candied orange peel. The fruitiness is supported by some hefty wood spice (especially cinnamon and tannic oak) and sweetness in the form of toffee and caramel notes. Hints of chocolate and milky coffee sit in the background, as does an increasingly herbal characteristic and a suggestion of gingerbread.

Dalmore 2007 Vintage

The colour is a vibrant gold and the nose has a warming floral and honeyed feel. Aromas of heather honey and citrus blossom mingle with milk chocolate, dried fruits (think of raisin and sultana especially) and moscovado sugar.

On the palate this whisky feels silky and luxurious. Initial notes of warm heather honey and candied orange peel subside to allow further notes of sultana and chocolate coated raisins to come through. There is also a distinct green apple characteristic which continues throughout. This is supported by the crumbly brown sugar from the nose and some toffee. Sitting in the background are spicy and earthy notes - this is remininscent of antique furniture and old cigar box with a hint of festive mulling spice.

What's the verdict?

These are two superb new bottlings from Dalmore. They show the distillery's rich and fruity signature character but with a distinct luxurious elegance. It is also good to see the brand bottling these at a slightly higher ABV - this gives the whisky another dimension and a little more power. This is something which critics will say is lacking in core Dalmore whiskies.

We enjoyed both of these new single malts. They go in slightly different directions but both show Dalmore in a very good light. If we had to chose our favourite, then we would have to go for the rich and bold honeyed nature of the 2007 Vintage. But it would be a tough choice ...

Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (December 2, 2022)

Here is the round-up of the news from this last week.

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Dalmore

The north Highland distillery of Dalmore has announced the release of two new limited edition single malts - the 2003 Vintage (pictured, above left) and 2007 Vintage (pictured, above right). They represent the second bottlings in the Dalmore Vintage Collection. Both whiskies have been created from casks hand-selected by pioneering whisky maker Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE, Master Blender for Dalmore.

The Dalmore 2007 Vinatge is bottled at 15 years of age and 46.5% ABV. Again, initial maturation was in American oak ex-bourbon casks. The whisky was later transferred to a combination of ex-Matusalen, ex-Apostoles and ex-Amoroso sherry casks and ex-Madeira sweet wine barrels. A bottle will cost £150/ US$185. Both bottlings will be available from early December in selected world markets.

Smokehead

The Islay single malt brand of Smokehead has released their latest limited edition - the Smokehead Terminado. The new bottling follows the brand's recent experimentation with different cask types that has included ex-rum and ex-stout barrels. Terminado has seen a finishing period in ex-tequila casks from Jalisco in Mexico. The exact number of bottles has not been revealed. Smokehead Terminado is released at 43% ABV and is initially exclusive to the Amazon and Smokehead websites. A bottle will cost £69/ US$83.

"Smokehead is a brand that constantly pushes the boundaries of what a single malt whisky is and how it is perceived. By embracing contemporary methods of finishing, we’re at the forefront of innovation."
Iain Weir / Brand Director of Smokehead.

Spirit of Yorkshire

The Spirit of Yorkshire have announced details of two new limited editions of their Filey Bay single malt - the Port Finish Batch #1 and the Sherry Cask Reserve #3. The Filey Bay Port Finish Batch #1 (pictured, right) was distilled and filled to ex-bourbon casks in mid-2017, before being transferred to ex-Ruby Port casks in late-2020 for a two year finishing period. Just 10 casks have been used and these have yielded just 3,300 bottles at 46% ABV. Each will cost £65.

The Filey Bay Sherry Cask Reserve #3 (pictured, left) is the third annual bottling in the Sherry Cask Reserve series, which is released each Autumn. The spirit has been matured for its full term in ex-Fino sherry hogsheads. Just five have been used for the release and there are 2,000 bottles at 46% ABV. Each will cost £75. Both are available via spiritofyorkshire.com, at the distillery shop and through selected specialist whisky retailers in selected global markets.

Tullibardine

The Highland distillery of Tullibardine has announced the release of the latest whisky into its limited edition Marquis Collection - The Murray Triple Port. The spirit used was all distilled in 2008 and is the 12th bottling in the series, which was launched in 2016. The whisky has been finished in three types of ex-Port cask - white Port, Ruby Port and Tawny Port - before being combined to create the final product. Tullibardine The Murray Triple Port is released at 46% ABV and is limited to just over 18,000 bottles. It will be available worldwide via specialist whisky retailers and will cost £65/ US$80.

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