Dalmore Distillery, known for its distinctive, dense, fruity character with a cereal background, stands out due to its unique and somewhat complex distillation process. One of the most unusual features of Dalmore’s operation is its wash stills, which have flat tops, and come in two different sizes. The distillery employs four spirit stills, with two of them being double the size of the others. This size discrepancy, combined with the fact that the spirit stills are charged when the low wines and feints receiver is full, results in varying strength charges that produce different flavor profiles in the final distillate. While this might seem chaotic, it is controlled by highly experienced stillmen, ensuring consistency in the final product. After distillation, the various distillates are vatted together before being casked.
Another unique aspect of Dalmore’s distillation process is its condensing method. The spirit stills are fitted with external shell-and-tube condensers, which are laid horizontally, mimicking the old worm pipes that once lay in the burn running outside the stillhouse.
For maturation, Dalmore predominantly uses ex-Sherry casks, particularly ex-solera casks soaked in oloroso and PX Sherry for decades. This preference for Sherry casks sets Dalmore apart from many other distilleries, as it maintains a more traditional approach to aging whisky, unlike the newer trend of using oak-driven bespoke casks.
Dalmore’s roots go back to 1839 when it was founded by Alexander Matheson, who made his fortune with Jardine Matheson, a trading firm that succeeded the East India Company. The Mackenzie family took over Dalmore in 1878, and it remained family-owned until 1960, when Whyte & Mackay (W&M), one of Dalmore’s key customers, acquired it. For many years, Dalmore’s contribution to the single malt world was limited to a 12-year-old expression, and it played a significant role in W&M’s blends.
In recent years, Dalmore has dramatically expanded its range of single malts. The core range now includes 12, 15, 18, and 25-year-olds, along with no-age-statement special editions like King Alexander III and Cigar Malt. Dalmore has also ventured into luxury expressions, including the 21-vintage Constellation range (spanning from 1964 to 1992) and the 1951 ‘Sirius’ release, which can command prices well into the five-figure range.
Whyte & Mackay itself has changed hands several times, and Dalmore is now owned by Emperador, a Filipino company. Despite these changes, Dalmore’s commitment to quality and its unique distillation process has maintained its reputation as a luxury whisky producer.
