Story | Connie Li Photography | Dalmore
The Dalmore Decades, a one-of-a-kind selection of exceptional whiskies, tells the story of The Dalmore’s relentless pursuit of excellence over the years. It spans six decades, from one of the oldest liquors released by The Dalmore to the first Scotch created in the new millennium.
A pioneer in the art of cask curation, master distiller Richard Paterson has been on a mission over the last 50 years to push the boundaries of whisky production. The Dalmore Decades is Paterson’s personal selection and a culmination of his custody of the rare casks the distillery enjoys.
“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,” says proud distiller Paterson. “Each bottle marks a very special milestone in the brand’s history and has a unique story to tell, which I hope the lucky collector will enjoy with those closest to them.”
The unique set of six whiskies, the No. 6 Collection, will be offered at auction by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong in October, as part of the company’s autumn sales series. A significant percentage of the monies received will be donated to V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum and the first Victoria and Albert museum outside of London.
The Dalmore will also release 15 sets of the No. 5 Collection, containing five masterpiece whiskies representing each of the past five decades (1967, 1979, 1980, 1995, 2000). Each set mirrors the colours of the brand’s Principal Collection. Decanters will be engraved with an exclusive set number and also feature a unique coloured stopper. Each set is presented on a pedestal that owners can take home to display their collection. They will be sold exclusively through the finest retailers in the world, including Harrods (UK), Wally’s (US), Le Bon Marché (FR) and CDFG Hainan, with a suggested retail price of £200,000.
As well, there’s 25 covetable sets of the No. 4 Collection, each containing four decades of whiskies (1979, 1980, 1995, 2000). Mirroring the No. 5 Collection, each decanter will be engraved with an exclusive set number and come with a black collar and stopper. Each set will be displayed within one bespoke display pedestal, with individual compartments to house each decanter, and with each whisky’s unique story engraved upon the door.
No. 4 Collection sets will be sold exclusively through retailers, including Selfridges (UK), Annabel’s (UK), Harrods Shanghai, Galleries Lafayette (FR) and Waldorf Astoria (NL), with a suggested retail price of £100,000. They will be sold exclusively in Canada through BC Liquor Stores for $200,000.
The No. 6 Collection
The Dalmore Decades 1951-Royal Heritage
With this 60-year-old single malt, matured in twin sherry casks, one can expect to find whispers of black treacle, ginger and cocoa powder. It is one of the oldest whiskies ever released by The Dalmore and is the last one distilled during the Mackenzie era, founders of the distillery.
The Dalmore Decades 1967-Expertly Composed Spirit
This is a 53-year-old single malt laid down in 1967—a landmark year in which the stillhouse as it stands today was created. It provides complex but intriguing layers of clementine, tangy ground coffee and muscovado.
The Dalmore Decades 1979-Curating Exquisite Casks
This 40-year-old single malt is a tribute to the longstanding relationship between Spanish sherry bodega González Byass and The Dalmore. It has enjoyed maturation in a particularly 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 notes of maple syrup, pineapple and succulent dates.
The Dalmore Decades 1980-Unbroken Chain of Visionaries
The 1980s marked the arrival of master blender Richard Paterson at The Dalmore. This 40-yearold 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. Its single malt layers 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 The Dalmore’s iconic minimalist bell-shaped bottle, its sinuous curves echoing the voluptuous shape of the stills. It is matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in spectacular Tintilla de Rota port pipes, offering 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
It was born at 12:02 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2000, as the world celebrated the dawn of a new age. The final whisky of The Dalmore Decades has spent all 20 years of its life in a Matusalem Oloroso sherry butt, a radical departure from the distillery’s practice. Rare black maraschino cherry and bitter chocolate drench the palate, and a final kiss of licorice and tarte tatin ebbs slowly in the background.
