Dalmore 12 Year Old

Jan 20

The Dalmore is one of Whyte and MacKay’s most storied brands (dating its history back to 1263 and the reign of King Alexander III), and the 12 year old is where it starts. As the youngest age-stated regular release from The Dalmore, this bottle is a classic Highland single malt in every sense - it’s fruity, sherried, and in typical Dalmore fashion has a wonderfully viscous mouthfeel at a low proof. Master Distiller Richard Paterson has been at the helm for nearly fifty years (!) - known as “the nose”, his nostrils are insured and widely regarded as the best in the business. Do I want to be called “the nose”? maybe not, but in context, it’s pretty cool.

I got to try this first at The Whiskey Ward in NYC and I’ve loved Dalmore ever since. I have this, their Port-Finish, a private bottling from Flaviar, and am currently searching for their Cigar Malt Reserve. Dalmore is one of my favorite Scotches and I always have at least one on the bar.

Dalmore 12 Year Old: Specs

Classification: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Origin: Dalmore Distillery

Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Age: 12 Years Old

Location: Highlands

Dalmore 12 Year Old Price: $65

Official Website

The Dalmore 12 Year Old Review: Tasting Notes

Eye: Reddish amber, thick rims and thick legs.

Nose: Raisiny sweetness, red fruit, port wine casks.

Palate: Heavy sherry right away - dried fruits, mild mulling spices, chocolate-covered cherries, red plums and blackberries. Mouthfeel is just slightly astringent with incredible viscosity for an 80 proof whisky, carrying port sweetness and chocolate all the way.

Finish: Chocolate-covered cherries that leaves dark chocolate after drying out a little.

Overall: Port-level sweetness for a sherry bomb. The biggest point here is the mouthfeel - I can’t emphasize how viscous this is independently of its proof, and once you consider the proof is so low that becomes even more spectacular. There are other expressions I like more (the Cigar Malt is my favorite) but this is also better than most brands’ entry points. Whatever Mr. Paterson’s nose is insured at, perhaps they should double it.

Final Rating: 8.1

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)