The Dalmore Cask Curation Series The Port Edition
When I’m not sipping on a fine dram, I have to admit that I am partial to a good port, especially around Christmas. While I’m by no means a port aficionado, I have tried more than my fair share over the years. Of these, I have to say that Graham’s is certainly up there with the best. Any chance I get to combine whisky with port, well, I’m all over it. That’s part of the reason why this collection of exceptional drams from The Dalmore, had me so excited.
Having been founded back in 1839, the Dalmore distillery is one of the most recognisable distilleries in the Scottish Highlands. They’re renowned for their fantastically complex malt whiskies, along with those iconic silver stag’s heads which sit proudly on the front of each bottle. As part of their Cask Curation series of whiskies, 2024 saw them release the Port Edition, which is what we’re going to be looking at today.
So, get your feet up, pour yourself a dram, and let’s take a more detailed look at The Port Edition as part of The Dalmore Cask Curation Series.
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series Port Edition
Released in late 2024, Dalmore unveiled their second Cask Curation Series, this time consisting of a trio of port wine matured single cask single malt whiskies.
Their first Cask Curation release was a huge hit, and celebrated the harmonious relationship between whisky and sherry. For this release, Scotland met Portugal, as three divine single malts were aged in rare Graham’s tawny port pipes, decades old.
Graham’s are arguably the most prestigious name in the fortified wine industry, so it was only a matter of time before these two icons came together. The end result is the ultimate collaboration and one of the most unique and collectible releases in the history of the biz.
Limited to just 150 sets, this release consists of a 27-year-old, a 30-year-old, and a 43-year-old whisky, each aged in unique Graham’s tawny port casks and presented in a hand-made, green leather travel case. All for the tidy sum of £35,000. As you might expect, this one is special.
The 27 Year Old 1997 Cask Finish
The first in this collection is a 27-year-old single malt, first matured in American oak, ex-bourbon casks before being finished in a 1997 Single Harvest Graham’s Tawny Port.
The whisky has a gorgeous copper hazelnut colour to it, and an ABV of 49.3%. It’s vibrant, zingy, complex, and elegant.
On the nose, you immediately get strong notes of date, honey, red grapes, and prunes. These are commonly associated with port, particularly tawny, as you might expect. The aromas only serve to get even more complex. Next comes the roasted coffee bean and dark chocolate scents, with a hint of toasted hazelnut, marzipan, and apricot jam. There’s a touch of leather and baking spice hiding here too, just to add even more complexity.
On the palate, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were sipping a dessert wine, for a second at least. Blackcurrants, honey-drizzled figs, black cherry compote, roasted malt, and dark chocolate covered candied ginger are first present. A second or so later, and you should pick up a taste of clotted cream fudge, treacle tart, nutmeg, clove, and orange zest.
The finish is medium and complex. There’s a hint of lightly toasted oak, candied ginger, Bakewell tart, lemon and lime zest, and cinnamon sugar. It has a cloying mouthfeel. Want an alternative to a dessert wine with your pud? This would do the trick!
The 30 Year Old 1994 Cask Finish
The second whisky of this collection is a 30-year-old single malt, again matured in American oak, ex-bourbon casks before being finished in a Single Harvest Graham’s Tawny Port Pipe from 1994.
This dram, despite being older, has a slightly lighter hue to it than its 27-year-old counterpart. It’s a wonderfully warm chestnut brown colour and has less of a kick to it, with an ABV of 43.9%.
On the nose, it’s very citrussy. You get strong scents of blood orange, along with poached pears, sticky toffee pudding, candied walnuts, chocolate honeycomb and ripe summer berries. Get your nose in for another sniff, and things should become richer, with notes of crème brulee, cardamon, and cassia bark proving particularly strong here.
On the palate, more blood orange right away, along with ruby grapefruit, sticky plum compote, vanilla and tonka bean ice cream, chocolate profiteroles, medjool dates, and candied almonds. Another sip, and those fruity notes should become more prominent, though there’s a touch of sweet vanilla and oak this time.
The finish is lengthy and drawn out. You should get pure Canadian maple syrup, morello cherries, butterscotch, candied orange peel, dark chocolate coated coffee beans, and creamy porridge oats.
The 43 Year Old 1952 Cask Finish
The final whisky in this extraordinary lineup is the oldest and rarest of all. A 43-year-old whisky, matured first in American Oak ex-bourbon casks before being finished in a Graham’s Single Harvest Tawny Port Cask from 1952. The word ‘rare’ is used a lot in this industry, but please believe me when I say that this type of cask is rare. Like, really rare!
The whisky has a stunning walnut copper colour to it, with a smoother, more mellow ABV of 41.8%. It’s silky smooth, decadent, delicate, and moreish.
On the nose, strong fruity notes from the offset. There’s ripe raspberry jam, plums, tinned peaches, and dried apricots to begin with. These aromas work in harmony with scents of freshly baked Scottish shortbread, creamy vanilla custard, leather, winter baking spices, candied almonds, and dark cocoa nibs.
On the palate, your tastebuds are treated to a cacophony of different tastes and flavours. There’s a distinctly tropical feel to this dram, with caramelized pineapple, coconut, mango sorbet, and passionfruit flavours all present here. This tropical, fruity flavours work in synergy with tastes of black liquorice, black treacle, golden syrup, plum compote, and Manuka honey.
The finish is medium in length with an unreal mouthfeel. Notes of iced Jamaican ginger cake, sweet pipe tobacco, peaches and cream, and rhubarb crumble linger on the palate long after that first sip. As these fade, that old oak wisdom I keep talking about comes into play, as spicy, lightly toasted oak helps balance everything out wonderfully.
If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, 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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