The Dalmore Highland Single Malt whisky brand recently announced The Dalmore Decades, a one-of-a-kind, collectible set of five premium whiskies, spanning five decades (1967, 1979, 1980, 1995, 2000), and pricing at $275,000.
From one of the oldest liquids released by The Dalmore to the first Scotch created in the new Millennium, the collection celebrates what’s described as the creators and stories behind each bottle and offers a rare chance to own these iconic pieces of whisky history.
Each of the 15 sets, according to the brand, is unique and tells a story of the Highland Single Malt maker’s pursuit of whisky excellence. Mirroring the colors of The Dalmore’s Principal Collection, each decanter features a different and distinctive colored stopper and each are engraved with an exclusive set number. Every set is presented on a unique pedestal that owners will take home for display.
“Over the past 50 years, I have kept a watchful eye over our superlative inventory of rare whiskies, giving them the guidance to mature and reach their full potential in the finest casks sourced from around the world,” said Master Distiller Richard Paterson in a prepared statement. “The Dalmore Decades opens doors to the world of luxury … every drop of liquid is a masterpiece of time.”
He said this collection is a memento of The Dalmore’s 180-year history and each bottle marks a special milestone and has a unique story to tell. “If the last year has taught us anything, it is that life is to be enjoyed now, and I hope the lucky collector will enjoy it with those closest to them.”
A pioneer in the art of cask curation over the last 50 years, Paterson has been on what’s described as a mission to push the boundaries in whisky production and optimize its potential over time. The Dalmore Decades is Paterson’s personal selection and a culmination of his custody of the rare casks the distillery enjoys.
One set of The Dalmore Decades 5 Piece Collection will be displayed exclusively at Wally’s Wine & Spirits in Southern California. Beginning in November, set Number 14 of 15 will be available for collectors to acquire, and it will be the only set available in the U.S.
“This intricate 5 piece collection is an artful depiction of The Dalmore’s timeless excellence. It represents 180 years of masterful whisky making and I’m proud to be part of The Dalmore Decades’ inception,” said Christopher Watt, President of Whyte & Mackay Americas. “Having been immersed in the brand for over a decade, I’m honored to share this special piece of The Dalmore’s history.”
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Each of the remaining Dalmore Decades 5 Piece Collection sets will be sold exclusively through the retailers including Harrods (UK), Le Bon Marché (FR), and CDFG Hainan (CH).
The one-of-one, five-bottle collection in the U.S. is comprised of:
- The Dalmore Decades 1967 – ‘Expertly Composed Spirit’
An elegant 53-year-old single malt, laid down in 1967, a landmark year in which the stillhouse as it stands today was created. This single malt provides complex but intriguing layers of clementine, tangy ground coffee, and muscovado, thanks to its final maturation in a Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine barrique.
- The Dalmore Decades 1979 – ‘Curating Exquisite Casks’
This 40-year-old single malt is a tribute to the longstanding relationship between González Byass and The Dalmore. The 1979 has enjoyed maturation in a fine Matusalem Oloroso sherry butt before a final maturation in a Graham’s Port Vintage 1952 – one of Port’s rarest vintages. The resulting whisky is exuberant sultanas and toasted pistachios, finishing in pleasant notes of maple syrup, pineapple, and succulent dates.
- The Dalmore Decades 1980 – ‘Unbroken Chain of Visionaries’
The 1980s marked Richard Paterson’s arrival at The Dalmore and his tutelage by the last Mackenzie. Like his predecessor, Richard’s long-standing tenure personifies a commitment to the vision of the distillery established 180 years ago. This 40-year-old single malt takes the traditional maturation of The Dalmore and reverses it: the whisky moves from Bourbon casks into Matusalem sherry butts, then spends more than five years back in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks before bottling – a bold move which brings renewed life and vivacity to the spirit. The 1980 promises orchestrated single malt layers, which include a gentle whisper of bitter chocolate, marzipan, and cocoa powder.
- The Dalmore Decades 1995 – ‘The Creation of an Icon’
The 90s welcomed the creation of an icon The Dalmore’s minimalist bell-shaped bottle, its sinuous curves echoing the voluptuous shape of the stills through which the distillery’s matchless spirit runs. The 1995 is matured in ex-Bourbon casks and finished in spectacular Tintilla de Rota port pipes. It offers a burst of red berries, glazed nectarines, frangipane, and moist pecan pie on the palate, building to a triumphal finish.
- The Dalmore Decades 2000 – ‘Into the New Millennium’
At 12:02am on Saturday, Jan. 1st, 2000, as the world celebrated the dawn of a new age, workers at The Dalmore were at their posts securing a notable achievement for the Highland distillery: the first in Scotland to run new spirit off the stills in the third millennium, officially witnessed three minutes after midnight. The final whisky of The Dalmore Decades is also perhaps the most distinctive: it has spent all 20 years of its life in a Matusalem Oloroso sherry butt in a radical departure from the distillery’s practice. Rare and intriguing, black maraschino cherry and bitter chocolate drench the palate, and a final kiss of licorice and tarte Tatin ebbs slowly in the background.
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