The Dalmore is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky distillery located in Alness, on the shores of the Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands. The distillery was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson and is recognized by its distinctive stag emblem, which was adopted in 1867 when the Clan Mackenzie, who managed the distillery, was granted the right to use the royal stag symbol following an ancestor's rescue of King Alexander III from a charging stag.
The Dalmore is known for its emphasis on sherry cask maturation and the use of rare and expensive cask types. Master Distiller Richard Paterson, who has held the role for over five decades, has established the distillery's reputation for sourcing exceptional casks, including Matusalem oloroso sherry butts, port pipes, Madeira drums, and Bordeaux wine barrels. This focus on cask selection has defined The Dalmore's rich, full-bodied house style characterized by notes of chocolate, citrus, and spice.
The distillery's core range includes expressions aged 12, 15, 18, and 25 years, alongside the Port Wood Reserve and the King Alexander III, which is matured in six different cask types. The Dalmore has also released several record-setting limited editions, including the Dalmore 62, bottles of which have sold for over $250,000.
The Dalmore is owned by Whyte & Mackay, a Scotch whisky company that is itself a subsidiary of Philippines-based Emperador Inc., the world's largest brandy producer. Core expressions begin above $60, with aged and limited releases reaching into the tens of thousands of dollars.