🥃 The Dalmore
Distillery and single malt whisky brand in Alness (Highland), founded in 1839; the emblem is a stag; stills of different sizes; owned by Whyte & Mackay (Emperador).
The Dalmore is a distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand in Alness, north of Inverness, on the shore of the Cromarty Firth. It was founded in 1839 by the businessman Alexander Matheson. The whisky matures in casks, mostly ex-sherry. The emblem is a stag's head, and the owner is Whyte & Mackay, which belongs to the Philippine group Emperador.
History. According to Whiskypedia, Matheson, who had made his fortune in trade, founded the distillery in 1839. The Mackenzie family leased it in 1878, and in 1891 three Mackenzie brothers bought it for 14,500 pounds. The family owned the distillery until 1960, when Whyte & Mackay took it over; ScotchWhisky.net, however, gives 2001. Emperador became the owner of the group in 2014. The crest is linked to a legend from 1263: an ancestor of the Mackenzies saved King Alexander III from a stag and for this received the right to a crest with a stag's head.
How it is made. There are four wash stills and four spirit stills. The wash stills have flat tops and come in two sizes: three of 13,000 litres and one twice as large. The spirit stills have water jackets on the necks, and the condensers are horizontal. Distillates from different stills are blended before filling into casks.
The range. According to ScotchWhisky.net, the 12 year old is a blend of bourbon and sherry casks in equal parts, the 15 year old is fully sherry-matured, and there are also the Gran Reserva and 1263 King Alexander III.
Why this matters to you. The age on the label is the age of the youngest whisky in the bottle. Versions differ in cask types: Gran Reserva matures mostly in sherry casks, while 1263 King Alexander III combines casks that held different wines. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1839, Alexander Matheson (Alness, Highland) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Highland) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
| Raw material | malted barley; water from Loch Morie (according to Whiskypedia) |
| Distillation method | twice, 4 wash stills and 4 spirit stills; the spirit stills have water jackets |
| Cask type | mostly ex-sherry casks (oloroso, PX); some releases — others |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law; versions of 12, 15 years and so on |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV by law; the actual strength depends on the version |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 The Dalmore → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Highland whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Glenfiddich, 🥃 Glen Grant, 🥃 Glen Grant, 🥃 Dalwhinnie, 🥃 Dalwhinnie, 🥃 Teacher's, 🥃 Teacher's, 🥃 Bunnahabhain, 🥃 Bunnahabhain, 🥃 Tomatin
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that the stag on the label is random?
No. According to a legend from 1263, an ancestor of the Mackenzie clan saved King Alexander III, and the family received the right to a crest with a stag.
How many stills does Dalmore have?
Four wash stills and four spirit stills; one wash still is twice as large as the others.
Who owns Dalmore?
Whyte & Mackay, which has been part of the Emperador group since 2014.
When was Dalmore founded?
In 1839, by Alexander Matheson, in Alness.
What casks is Dalmore aged in?
Most often ex-sherry casks; some releases use casks from Madeira, port, bourbon and other drinks.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
- 🥃 Glenfiddich — Distillery and brand of single malt scotch in Dufftown (Speyside), founded in 1886; owned by the family firm William Grant & Sons; the 12-year-old is 40% ABV.
Similar
🥃 Fettercairn · 🥃 Glengoyne · 🥃 Loch Lomond Distillery · 🥃 Ben Nevis · 🥃 Blair Athol · 🥃 Teaninich
⚠️ 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
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Dalmore (1839 Alexander Matheson, Mackenzie family 1878-1960, Whyte & Mackay, Emperador 2014, stills, Loch Morie, ex-sherry casks)
- ScotchWhisky.net: Dalmore (1839, 4 wash + 4 spirit stills, stag's head and 1263 legend, 12/15/Gran Reserva maturation)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)