The Dalmore Highland Single Malt is proud to present The Dalmore Decades, a one-of-a-kind, collectible set of five exceptional whiskies, spanning five decades (1967, 1979, 1980, 1995, 2000). From one of the oldest liquids released by The Dalmore to the first Scotch created in the new Millennium, the collection celebrates the visionary creators and stories behind each bottle and offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own these iconic pieces of history.
Each of the 15 sets is truly unique and tells a magnificent story of the Highland Single Malt maker’s relentless pursuit of excellence. Mirroring the colors of the brand’s Principal Collection, each decanter features a different and distinctive colored stopper. Bottles are engraved with an exclusive set number, presenting a compelling opportunity for established and new collectors alike. Every set is presented on a stunning pedestal that owners will take home to display as their own masterpiece.
The Dalmore has been making exceptional whisky for more than 180 years from their distillery on the shores of Cromarty Firth. It takes rare expertise to realize the potential in every drop of The Dalmore by hand – an approach that ensures every bottle of The Dalmore is not just an extraordinary single malt but is truly the making of a masterpiece. The Dalmore Decades 5 Piece collection is a tribute and testament to this.
“Over the past 50 years, I have kept a watchful eye over our superlative inventory of rare whiskies, giving them the guidance to mature and reach their full potential in the finest casks sourced from around the world,” says Master Distiller Richard Paterson. “The Dalmore Decades opens doors to the world of luxury – every drop of liquid is a masterpiece of time. This collection is a memento of our 180-year history and each bottle marks a very special milestone and has a unique story to tell. If the last year has taught us anything, it is that life is to be enjoyed now and I hope the lucky collector will enjoy with those closest to them.”
A pioneer in the art of cask curation over the last 50 years, Master Distiller Richard Paterson has been on a mission to push the boundaries in whisky production and optimize its potential over time. The Dalmore Decades is Paterson’s personal selection and a culmination of his custody of the exceptionally rare casks the distillery enjoys.
The one of one, five-bottle collection in the U.S. is comprised of:
- The Dalmore Decades 1967 – ‘Expertly Composed Spirit’
An impeccably elegant 53-year-old single malt, laid down in 1967, a landmark year in which the stillhouse as it stands today was created. This single malt provides complex but wonderfully intriguing layers of clementine, tangy ground coffee, and muscovado, thanks to its final maturation in a Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine barrique.
- The Dalmore Decades 1979 – ‘Curating Exquisite Casks’
This 40-year-old single malt is a tribute to the longstanding relationship between González Byass and The Dalmore. The 1979 has enjoyed maturation in a particularly fine Matusalem Oloroso sherry butt before a final maturation in a Graham’s Port Vintage 1952 – one of Port’s rarest vintages. The resulting whisky is exuberant sultanas and toasted pistachios, finishing in pleasant notes of maple syrup, pineapple, and succulent dates.
- The Dalmore Decades 1980 – ‘Unbroken Chain of Visionaries’
The 1980s marked Richard Paterson’s arrival at The Dalmore and his tutelage by the last Mackenzie. Like his predecessor, Richard’s long-standing tenure personifies a commitment to the vision of the distillery established 180 years ago. This 40-year-old single malt takes the traditional maturation of The Dalmore and reverses it: the whisky moves from Bourbon casks into Matusalem sherry butts, then spends more than five years back in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks before bottling – a bold move which brings renewed life and vivacity to the spirit. The 1980 promises beautifully orchestrated single malt layers, which include a gentle whisper of bitter chocolate, marzipan, and cocoa powder.
- The Dalmore Decades 1995 – ‘The Creation of an Icon’
The 90s welcomed the creation of an icon The Dalmore’s minimalist bell-shaped bottle, its sinuous curves echoing the voluptuous shape of the stills through which the distillery’s matchless spirit runs. The 1995 is matured in ex-Bourbon casks and finished in spectacular Tintilla de Rota port pipes. It offers a burst of red berries, glazed nectarines, frangipane, and moist pecan pie on the palate, building to a triumphal finish.
- The Dalmore Decades 2000 – ‘Into the New Millennium’
At 12:02am on Saturday, 1 January 2000, as the world celebrated the dawn of a new age, workers at The Dalmore were at their posts securing a notable achievement for the Highland distillery: the first in Scotland to run new spirit off the stills in the third millennium, officially witnessed three minutes after midnight. The final whisky of The Dalmore Decades is also perhaps the most distinctive: it has spent all 20 years of its life in a Matusalem Oloroso sherry butt in a radical departure from the distillery’s practice. Rare and intriguing, black maraschino cherry and bitter chocolate drench the palate, and a final kiss of licorice and tarte Tatin ebbs slowly in the background. While it took 20 long years to craft this unique spirit, its exceptional quality can be recognized in a matter of seconds.
As part of The Dalmore’s global initiative, the brand has also released a one of one set of six whiskies, the No.6 Collection, which will be offered at auction by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong in October 2021, as part of the company’s autumn sales series. A significant percentage of the sale will be donated to Scotland’s design museum and the first V&A Museum outside of London, V&A Dundee.
