The Dalmore Just Launched a New Limited-Edition Collection of Sherry Cask-Aged Whiskies
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The Dalmore is a Scottish distillery known for using sherry casks to finish its high-end single malt whisky. The distillery’s new Cask Curation Series is meant to highlight its relationships with various production partners, and it kicks off with the Sherry Edition which shines a light on the barrels that come from Spain’s Gonzalez Byass.
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Gonzales Byass is a sherry bodega located in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain led by master winemaker Antonio Flores and his daughter Silvia. Exceptional sherry is made there of various styles, with the most famous being Tio Pepe fino sherry. The sherry-seasoned casks are sold to the Dalmore after being emptied, and the distillery uses them to give much of its whisky a secondary maturation to soak up new flavors, a common practice in Scotland. But the Dalmore prides itself on selecting the rarest (and sometimes oldest) casks it can find, with the belief that this careful curation will result in the best tasting whisky. Today, that job falls to master whisky maker Gregg Glass and master distiller Richard Paterson OBE, who pick casks and sample the whisky as it ages to make sure it meets the Dalmore’s specific flavor profile.
Enter the Sherry Edition, the first in the Cask Curation Series, a trio of vintage whiskies that we got to preview this week. The first whisky is a 26-year-old single malt distilled in 1996, matured in bourbon barrels, and finished in a 2002 vintage oloroso sherry cask from Gonzales Byass. “This cask is a true reflection of the natural beauty, balance and charm that the Dalmore offers,” said Glass in a statement. There are loads of fresh berries on the palate here, along with strawberry jam, honey, and orange marmalade–a very bright, fresh flavor despite its age.
The second whisky is a 28-year-old distilled in 1994, matured in bourbon barrels, and finished in a 30-year-old matusalem sherry cask. “A melody of flavors brought together in pure harmony through the classic influence of our renowned 30-years-old matusalem oloroso sherry butts,” said Paterson. “The result is a treasure chest of pure liquid gold.” This whisky is much darker than the first, with a richer, more tannic palate almost like a port finish, along with notes of spice, caramel, and vanilla. The last whisky is 43 years old, distilled in 1979, matured in bourbon barrels, and finished in a 30-year-old apostoles sherry cask. “This noble spirit was nurtured and finished in Warehouse Number 4 over many years, creating an unsurpassed journey of pure charm and sophistication,” said Glass and Paterson. There are tropical notes on the palate but nothing excessive, along with citrus, grape jelly, molasses, and oak.
Overall, this is an excellent trio of whiskies, all bottled with natural color, at cask strength, and non-chill filtered. There are only 150 sets available priced at $37,500, each housed in a leather travel case made in Italy to show off these beautiful bottles. There will be future Cask Curation Series releases—next year will highlight the Dalmore’s relationship with port producers, and two more releases arrive in 2025 and 2026. And if you’re looking for some Dalmore whisky to try now, the entire collection is available to purchase from ReserveBar.
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