If you’re talking about ultra-luxury scotch The Dalmore has to be a part of the conversation. In fact—for better or worse—the legendary Highland single malt producer helped set the stage for the jaw-dropping prices we now regularly observe around the orbit of whisky. It’s not like they did it on purpose. They’d just been maturing damn good juice for generations and were sitting on some absurdly old casks of it. When master distiller Richard Paterson released a 62-year-old expression back in 2002, connoisseurs had never seen nor tasted anything quite like it (nine years later, the final bottle sold for a then-record £125,000). Yet, for all the high-end hoopla, the brand remains quietly committed to pleasing the palates of mere mortals…aka those pleading for far less zeros on the price tag of their preferred spirit. The Dalmore 14 is a testament to that commitment.
Some of The Dalmore’s top selections from the “Principal Collection.”Courtesy Image
New to American markets this autumn, the rich liquid smacks all the touchstones characterizing the house style—a ruminative balance of dark fruit, marmalade, and cacao. And it will sit on shelves with nary a zero in sight: $89.99 is the suggested retail value of the latest addition to The Dalmore’s “Principal Collection,” which also includes 12-, 15-, 18- and 21-year-old expressions.
“The Dalmore 14 is a truly exceptional expression combining the beauty of The Dalmore Scotch Whisky from Scotland with the delicacy of rare sherry casks from Spain,” according to master whisky maker Greg Glass (yes, that is his real name). “It showcases delicious notes of citrus and rich caramel, harmoniously balanced.”