Dalmore Distillery — Highland Single Malt Whisky

Dalmore Distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery located in Alness, on the shores of the Cromarty Firth in the Highland region of Scotland. It was founded in 1839 and is currently owned by Whyte & Mackay, part of the Philippines-based Emperador Inc. group. Dalmore is best known for its distinctive 12-pointed Royal Stag emblem and its use of unusual, often very old, sherry and wine casks for maturation.

History

Dalmore was established in 1839 by Alexander Matheson, a merchant who had made his fortune with the trading firm Jardine Matheson. In 1867 the distillery was sold to brothers Andrew and Charles Mackenzie, whose family retained control for close to a century and introduced the 12-pointed Royal Stag as the brand's emblem, said to commemorate an ancestor saving a Scottish king from a charging stag during a hunt. During the First World War the distillery buildings were requisitioned to manufacture depth charges for the Admiralty, and in 1920 much of the site was destroyed when a Royal Navy mine detonated nearby, leading to a lengthy compensation dispute. In 1960 Whyte & Mackay, one of Dalmore's principal customers, acquired the distillery, bringing to an end over ninety years of Mackenzie family ownership. Whyte & Mackay itself has since changed hands several times, and Dalmore is now part of the Emperador Inc. drinks group, controlled by the Philippines-based Alliance Global conglomerate. The distillery draws its process water from the River Averon, which flows from Loch Morie, and has built a reputation for experimenting with rare sherry, port, madeira and wine casks, producing some of the most highly valued single malts ever sold at auction.

Quick Facts

• Region: Highland
• Founded: 1839
• Owner: Whyte & Mackay (Emperador Inc.)
• Status: Active
• Stills: 4 wash stills, 4 spirit stills

Core Range

Dalmore's core Principal Collection centres on age-statement single malts finished in a variety of sherry, port and wine casks: the Dalmore 12 Year Old (40% ABV), Dalmore 15 Year Old (40% ABV), Dalmore 18 Year Old (43% ABV), and the no-age-statement King Alexander III (40% ABV), matured across six different cask types including ex-bourbon, oloroso sherry, madeira, marsala, port and cabernet sauvignon casks. Older expressions in the range include the Dalmore 25 Year Old, alongside limited and vintage releases for which the distillery is particularly well known among collectors.