| Dalmore distillery | |
| Type: | Highland |
| Image Size: | 250 |
| Location: | Alness, Scotland |
| Owner: | Whyte & Mackay |
| Founded: | 1839 |
| Status: | Operational |
| Source: | Alness river |
| Stills: | 4 wash 16500+ 4 spirit 11000+[1] |
| Capacity: | 4200000L |
| Brand 1: | The 12, The 15, The 18, 25 |
| Type 1: | Single Malt |
| Age 1: | 12,[2] 15,[3] 18,[4] 25 |
| Abv 1: | 40–43 |
| Brand 2: | Dalmore King Alexander III[5] |
| Type 3: | Single Malt |
| Abv 3: | 40 |
Dalmore distillery is located in Alness, Scotland, 20 miles (32 km) north of Inverness. It sits on the banks of the Cromarty Firth overlooking the Black Isle, the "big meadowland" from which it takes its name.
The Dalmore distillery is operated by Whyte & Mackay, which Philippines-based Alliance Global owns.
The distillery was established in 1839 by entrepreneur Alexander Matheson and sold to Andrew and Charles Mackenzie in 1867, who introduced the 12-pointed Royal Stag emblem. Operations ran fairly smoothly at the distillery until 1917 when the British Royal Navy began to use the firth next to the distillery as a site for the production of deep-sea mines. In 1920 much of the distillery was destroyed by an explosion and the fire resulting from a mine detonation incident. The subsequent legal battle between Andrew Mackenzie and the Royal Navy lasted over half a decade, even reaching the House of Lords.[6] The distillery remained family-owned until 1960, when one of Dalmore's main customers, Whyte & Mackay, took control. A significant contributor to W&M's blends, for many years Dalmore's presence in the world of single malt was restricted to a 12-year-old expression. In recent times, however, the range has expanded dramatically, with a core range of 12, 15, 18 and 25-years-old, as well as no-age-statement specialty and luxury offerings. Prices at the top end often cost more than five figures.[7] [8]
The water used in the Dalmore is taken from the river Averon, which runs through the small town of Alness, where the distillery is located. The waters of the river flow from the nearby Loch Morie, located deep in the heart of the Northern Highlands. The location of the Dalmore's distillery and its smooth, floral flavor qualify it as a Highland malt.
The wash stills at Dalmore have flat tops and are also in two sizes. Three are in capacity, and the fourth is double that. The spirit stills all sport water coolers around their necks to assist in reflux. Again, one of the quartets is double the size. Because of this discrepancy in size and the fact that the spirit stills are charged when the low wines and feints receiver is full, the strength of the charge to those stills varies, creating different end flavors. All these distillates are vetted before being casked.
Condensing is also unusual. The spirit stills have external shell and tube condensers which lie horizontally. This mirrors the old worm pipe which lay in the burn which runs outside the stillhouse.
Every Dalmore product is matured in two different types of wooden casks: American white oak bourbon casks and exclusive aged sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass. Each sherry cask is selected by master distiller Richard Paterson.