Dalmore Cask Curation Series Port Edition
Sorry to keep talking about it, but as we’re fast approaching the festive season, I can’t help but talk about Christmas. For me, Christmas and whisky go hand in hand with one another. In fact, for me it is the ultimate festive drink. Yes, I know I’m biased, but if you can’t enjoy a great dram at Christmas, when can you?
Speaking of Christmas drinks, there’s another tipple that’s quintessentially festive, and that’s port. This fortified wine is complex and sophisticated, and I absolutely love it. It turns out, that port also compliments certain types of whisky perfectly. That’s why we’ve seen port cask matured whiskies grow in popularity so much over the years.
If used correctly, port pipes can offer a complexity to whisky that you just don’t get from other casks. Recently, The Highland Distillery unveiled the Dalmore’s latest Cask Curation Series – Port Edition. Needless to say, this had me very excited and I had to learn more.
When Scotland Met Portugal
Each year, as part of their Cask Curation series, The Dalmore release a brand-new set of whisky. Last year, back in October 2023, their first edition was finished in sherry casks. That release proved to be a huge success and if that’s anything to go by, this year’s will be even better.
So, what can we expect for what’s left of 2024? Well, as you can probably tell, the second chapter, released in October 2024, saw the Highland distillery unveil their Port Cask Edition.
To celebrate the skill, expertise, and sheer artistry that goes into each release, The Dalmore have teamed up with Symington Family Estates for this year’s release.
Now, if you know your ports, this name will be very familiar to you. Symington Family Estates, the makers of Graham’s Port, are considered to be the finest winemakers in Portugal’s Douro Valley, which is the spiritual and literal home of port. If Scotland has regions like Islay and Speyside, Portugal has the Douro Valley.
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series Port Edition
Whisky collectors and aficionados alike are incredibly excited about this year’s release, and I’m not surprised why that is. The set, which is limited to just 150 sets, costs a pretty penny, as it will set you back £35,000.
Comprising of three, port cask aged single malt Scotch whiskies, each set is beautifully presented in a luxurious and bespoke leather finished travel case, which has been expertly handcrafted in Florence.
The port wine casks, which previously housed Graham’s port nurtured by Charles Symington, a fourth-generation head winemaker, elevate the single malt Scotch, offering rich and fruity, slightly nutty notes with chocolate undertones. One of my personal favourite ports of all time is Graham’s 10 Year Old Tawny, and you can definitely see, smell, and taste the tawny port influences here, which I love!
So, what do we have in the set? Well, the set is made up of three, port finished single malt Scotch whiskies of various ages.
The youngest of the set is a 27-year-old single malt from Dalmore’s Cask No. 3, which has been finished in one of Graham’s 1997 Single Harvest Tawny Port casks, Cask No. 2 to be exact.
The whisky was first matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon and American white oak casks, before it was lovingly finished in Graham’s Cask No. 2 to give a vibrant, exciting, and intricate profile and character.
The rich Mahogany coloured whisky is offered at 49.3%. For a dram pushing 50% ABV however, there’s virtually no harshness at all. It’s as smooth as you like, with wonderful mouthfeel thanks to the port influence.
On the nose, aromas of ripe figs, marzipan, sugared almonds, honey, cinnamon sticks, mace, and dark chocolate covered coffee beans should excite your senses. There’s also a sprinkling of more fruit right at the end there.
On the palate, more figs, along with sticky toffee and date pudding with vanilla custard, cinder toffee, winter baking spices, roasted cacao nibs, red grapes, cranberry, and roasted chestnuts. Not as much fruit as you might expect, but wow does it work.
The finish is lengthy and rich in the mouth. There’s crystalised ginger, candied lemon and lime zest, roasted almonds, and a touch of summer berries.
30 Year Old 1994 Single Harvest Tawny Port Cask Finish
Up next, we have the 30 Year Old 1994 Single Harvest Tawny Port Cask Finish. If you’re looking for a whisky that has very clearly been finished in a port cask, look no further.
This 30 year old dram from The Dalmore has body, complexity, balance, and heaps of character. Matured in ex-Bourbon and American white oak casks, before finishing in Graham’s Cask No. 3 it’ll take you on a journey from the rugged, weather-beaten Scottish Highlands to the sun-bathed, lush green banks of Portugal’s Douro River.
At 43.9% ABV, this whisky’s a very easy sipper. It also has a gorgeous golden amber caramel colour.
On the nose, expect notes of sticky figs and dates drizzled in honey. There’s zingy blood orange, red wine-poached pears, cassia, clove, and vanilla bean custard.
On the palate, the zingy citrus notes from the blood orange really present themselves. These are balanced beautifully with flavours of red berry, vanilla, dark chocolate brioche, strawberry liquorice laces, and all-butter croissants.
The finish is medium and thick in the mouth, with an oily mouthfeel. There’s more citrus here, roasted coffee beans, candied orange and lemon peel, canned cherries in syrup, and a hint of pecan and maple. One of the most interesting finishes you’ll ever enjoy.
43 Year Old 1952 Single Harvest Tawny Port Cask Finish
And finally, we have the oldest, *sorry, the most mature*, of all three expressions.
Like its predecessors, this whisky was aged in ex-American white oak and Bourbon casks, before it finished Graham’s Cask No.1, which previously housed one of the rarest ports in the world, a 1952 single harvest tawny port.
This whisky has a deep crimson and amber colour. At 41.8% ABV, it’s smooth and warming as it slides down.
On the nose, perhaps the most obvious port notes of the three. There’s ripe forest berries, Five Spice, vanilla, toffee, clotted cream fudge, winter baking spices, malted chocolate, and apricot jam.
The palate is fruity and packed full of character. One sip and you’ll be rewarded with stewed plums, summer berry compote, vanilla, sweet oak, morello cherries, and Bakewell tart. Lingering in the background you’ll find more baking spices, honey-roasted figs, and fruity passionfruit.
The finish is fairly short and very festive in my opinion. There’s soft sandalwood, iced Christmas cake, candied stem ginger, pipe tobacco, and a suggestion of campfire embers.
If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or treat yourself to a Great Dram or two over the Holidays, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at what we have to offer.
With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.
Greg
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