🥃 Dalmore 12 Year Old
Entry-level 12-year-old single malt Scotch from The Dalmore; 40% ABV; matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks.
Dalmore 12 Year Old is the entry point of The Dalmore's permanent range: a 12-year-old single malt Scotch whisky at 40% ABV. It is the youngest of the age-stated expressions, so many people get to know the brand with it before moving on to the 15- and 18-year-old versions, which have longer maturation.
According to Difford's Guide, the whisky matures in American white oak casks that once held bourbon, and in Oloroso sherry casks. Paste reports that part of the spirit is aged in Matusalem sherry casks before the components are blended. It is produced at the Alness distillery in the Highlands and owned by Whyte & Mackay.
Why this matters to you. When comparing Dalmore 12 with older ages, look at strength and cask type: the 15-year-old spends part of its maturation in sherry, while the 18-year-old is bottled at 43%. The age on the label refers to the youngest whisky in the bottle, so check it on the bottle itself. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
|---|---|
| Cask type | American white oak, ex-bourbon; Oloroso sherry casks |
| EU category | 2 — whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) |
| Minimum maturation | 12 years (stated on the label) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Dalmore 12 Year Old → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Sherry, 🍷 Oak barrel, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 The Dalmore, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Dalmore 12 matures only in sherry casks?
No. According to Difford's Guide, it uses both ex-bourbon casks and Oloroso sherry casks, so it combines two types of wood.
What is the strength of Dalmore 12 Year Old?
40% ABV, the minimum strength required by law for Scotch whisky.
How does Dalmore 12 differ from Dalmore 15?
By age and maturation: the 15-year-old version spends several more years, part of them in different sherry casks, after the bourbon casks.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel — American white oak cask of 180–200 litres used for bourbon: bourbon may only be aged in new charred casks, so used ones go to Scotch, Irish whiskey and rum.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Dalmore 15 Year Old · 🥃 Dalmore 18 Year Old · 🥃 Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask · 🥃 Aberlour 18 Year Old · 🥃 Cragganmore 12 Year Old · 🥃 The Deveron 12 Year Old
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: The Dalmore 12 Year Old (40 %; American white oak ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry butts)
- Paste: Tasting, 7 core single malt whiskies from The Dalmore (age, ABV, casks)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)