Dalmore distillery has unveiled the first set in what promises to be an exciting venture: The Dalmore Cask Curation Series.
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series will comprise four limited edition sets to be released annually. Each set will contain three well-aged Dalmores, and each will focus on a different aspect of how the distillery curates casks for maturation.
The first set in the series is the Sherry Edition, containing three Dalmore whiskies that were initially matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon, and then finished in González Byass sherry casks previously used in a solera system:
- 26 Year Old, finished in vintage González Byass 2002 Oloroso Sherry Cask, 48.2% ABV
- 28 Year Old, finished in rare González Byass 30 Year Old Matusalem Sherry Cask, 55.3% ABV
- 43 Year Old, finished in rare González Byass 30 Year Old Apostoles Sherry Cask, 46.8% ABV
Between them, these incredibly rare casks were used to mature sherry in a solera for almost 80 years. They were subsequently shipped to Scotland to be filled with Dalmore whisky for this release.
A Note On Soleras
The use of ex-solera sherry casks is very unusual in the whisky industry. Solera systems are used to mature sherry and feature a complex system moving the liquid from barrel to barrel in a pyramid.
Solera casks can be used in one particular system for a very long time (sometimes hundreds of years), and so the removal of one of the casks for whisky maturation is atypical.
Unlike these Dalmores which were matured in casks from a sherry solera, most so-called ‘sherry casks’ were never actually used to mature sherry. Instead, most sherry casks are seasoned with young sherry for use in maturing scotch whisky. Watch the video below for more information on sherry casks in the whisky industry.
Just 150 of these limited edition sets are available. The whiskies come in a bespoke red leather case handcrafted in Italy, and will be accompanied by a book featuring commentary by Master Whisky Maker Greg Glass, Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE, and González Byass’ Winemaker and Mast Blender Antonio Flores.
González Byass and Dalmore Distillery have a long-standing working relationship, with this set intended to pay homage to the influence that González Byass have on Dalmore whisky. You can read more about cask influence on whisky in our series: The Romance of the Cask.
To register your interest in The Dalmore Cask Curation Sherry Edition please visit The Dalmore’s website.
The second release in the Dalmore Cask Curation Series is expected in late 2024.
González Byass
González Byass is a well-established and revered sherry bodega in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. The firm has been making sherry and wine since its founding in 1835. Today, the company is owned by the fifth generation of the González family, and has 14 wineries located in Spain, Chile, and Mexico.
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A Brief History of Dalmore Distillery
Dalmore is a distillery with a monumental reputation as a collectors malt alongside the likes of Macallan and Glenlivet, despite being a smaller output compared to those distilleries. Dalmore was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson, and was subsequently watched over by descendants of Clan Mackenzie, who created the famous Dalmore stag.
Dalmore was considered the pinnacle of luxury whisky for a significant period, thanks to a rebrand in the early 2000s. Whisky from Dalmore broke records and was, arguably, at the head of the industry until Macallan’s rebrand in 2018. Today, Dalmore continues to create top-quality whisky and compete at the head of the market with luxury releases such as The Dalmore Cask Curation Series.
