🥃 Dalmore 18 Year Old
18-year-old single malt Scotch from The Dalmore; 43% ABV; bourbon casks and Matusalem sherry casks.
Dalmore 18 Year Old is an 18-year-old single malt Scotch whisky from The Dalmore. According to Paste, its strength is 43% ABV, slightly higher than the 12- and 15-year-old versions. It is the oldest expression among the three age-stated whiskies in the permanent range.
Based on available data, most of the maturation takes place in ex-bourbon casks, followed by time in Matusalem Oloroso sherry casks. Paste gives 14 years in bourbon casks and 4 years in sherry casks; Difford's Guide describes the first release from 2009 (3,000 bottles), so for later batches it is better to check the label. It is produced at the Alness distillery in the Highlands and owned by Whyte & Mackay.
Why this matters to you. When comparing Dalmore 18 with the 12- and 15-year-old versions, look at age, strength and cask type, not only at the look of the bottle. The age on the label refers to the youngest whisky in the bottle. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 43% ABV |
|---|---|
| Cask type | American oak, ex-bourbon; Matusalem Oloroso sherry casks |
| EU category | 2 — whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) |
| Minimum maturation | 18 years (stated on the label) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Dalmore 18 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 18 has the same strength as the 12-year-old?
No. According to Paste, the 18-year-old version is 43% ABV, while the 12- and 15-year-old versions are 40% ABV each.
Which casks is Dalmore 18 matured in?
In ex-bourbon casks, followed by Matusalem Oloroso sherry casks; the number of years differs between sources.
What is the first release in Difford's Guide?
It describes the first batch from 2009, with 3,000 bottles; later batches may differ.
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 12 Year Old · 🥃 Dalmore 15 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 18 Year Old (first release Oct-09; 43 %; ex-bourbon, finished in Matusalem 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)