High end Scotch whisky distillery The Dalmore is certainly no newcomer when it comes to plotting out luxury level pricing for its older whiskies. It is something we’ve seen play out as a strategy across the board, whether it is with their over $500 21-year-old, over $4,000 35-year-old or their around $1,525,000 Patterson Collection. They now have a new super high end bottling just coming to market, the over $60,000 Dalmore 50-Year-Old.
The new Dalmore 50-Year-Old, according to the distillery, was crafted to mark master distiller Richard Paterson’s 50th year in the whisky industry. This is one whopper of an expression, with only up to 50 decanters being released, each of which will be hand-filled on order. Here are more specifics on it from Dalmore:
The Dalmore 50 has been matured in American white oak, Matusalem oloroso sherry casks from the world renowned Gonzalez Byass Bodega and port Colheita pipes from the Douro region of Portugal, before undertaking a final finesse for 50 days in rare champagne casks from Domaine Henri Giraud.
Paterson did not select the champagne cask by chance. Considered to be one of the region’s hidden gems, Domaine Henri Giraud family estate is regularly lauded by experts from around the globe and is one of the only champagne houses to still mature their wines in casks. The casks selected have a unique intensity and aromatic complexity, giving Paterson the final flourish of wood needed to create this exceptional expression.
To hold this unique whisky, the artisans at prestigious French crystal house Baccarat have skilfully created crystal decanters, each of which will be held within a presentation case designed and crafted by the accomplished furniture makers at LINLEY.
Finally, each decanter will be adorned with a solid silver stag, created by silversmiths Hamilton & Inches, holder of The Royal Warrant.
This is a special year for me so I chose to finesse this whisky in a champagne cask, as this magnificent drink is synonymous with celebratory occasions,” said Patterson in a prepared statement. “Bringing the champagne together with Matusalem oloroso sherry and port is perhaps the greatest example to date of our ability to innovate in both maturation and cask finishing while preserving the signature flavours of The Dalmore.”
This whisky is exceptional, as are the luxurious and sophisticated finishes applied by the craftsmen at Domaine Henri Giraud, Baccarat, Linley and Hamilton & Inches. They are true masters of their art and it is a pleasure to have worked with them to bring the 50 year old to life in such a magnificent way.”
Official tasting notes for this £50,000 whisky are below from The Dalmore, as well as a history of how it came to be.
Tasting Notes:
Aroma: Caramelised orange segments, vanilla pods and sweet sultanas
Palate: Tangy thick cut marmalade, roasted coffee and moist chocolate cake
Finish: Crushed almonds, black morello cherries and soft liquorice
ABV: 40%
Journey of The Dalmore 50 Year Old
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- 1966: The Dalmore new make spirit began its journey in American white oak
exBourbon casks - 2003: The maturing whisky is transferred to Matusalem oloroso sherry casks
- 2012: The whisky is transferred to Port Colheita pipes
- 2016: In January of this year, the spirit was transferred to Bourbon barrels as it reached its desired taste profile, prior to finessing.
- November 2016: The whisky was finessed in Domaine Henri Giraud Champagne casks for 50 days before bottling.
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