Dalmore reveals £35,000 Port Edition
Whyte & Mackay-owned The Dalmore has launched the second instalment in its Cask Curation Series: Port Edition.
After the initial release finished in Sherry casks in October 2023, the 2024 Port Edition is the second chapter in a series celebrating the Highland distillery's whisky making and the role played by casks. For the second instalment, the Port casks have been exclusively sourced from Symington Family Estates in the Douro Valley, makers of Graham's Port. Each set in the collection comprises three rare whiskies and showcases the flavour potential in Graham’s Port wine casks, which have been nurtured by fourth-generation head winemaker Charles Symington. The rare Port casks 'enhance the rich character' of The Dalmore single malts, offering rich fruits and dark chocolate notes. The youngest of the three expressions is a 27-year-old single malt, Cask No.3, finished in Graham's 1997 Single Harvest Tawny Port casks and offered at 49.3% ABV. The 30-year-old Cask No.2 whisky was finished in Graham's 1994 Single Harvest Tawny Port casks and is bottled at 43.9% ABV. The oldest single malt in the trio, 43-year-old Cask No.1, is offered at 41.8% ABV. The expression was finished in Graham's 1952 Single Harvest Tawny Port casks. All three whiskies are bottled non-chill filtered at natural colour. Limited to only 150 sets, the Port Edition has a suggested retail price of £35,000 (US$46,600). The Port Edition is inspired by Portuguese winemakers and presented in a green-hued leather-finished travel case handcrafted in Florence, Italy, framing the trio of expressions. Each age-statement whisky is housed in the Dalmore bottle adorned with a matching collar. For decades, The Dalmore’s whisky makers have journeyed to Vila Nova de Gaia to hand-select rare Port pipes that are made exclusively available to the distillery. Margaret Nicol, whisky maker at The Dalmore, said: “Graham’s really is special, as a peaceful place to meet the casks and listen to them and their story. Plus, it is a unique place to enjoy The Dalmore, overlooking the river and the city. The collection is a celebration not only of partnership but of the friendship between us at The Dalmore and the Symington family”. The following chapters of the series will be revealed in 2025 and 2026. Earlier this year, Dalmore released the second release in its Luminary Series, the 49-year-old Luminary No.2 The Rare, which sold at a Sotheby's auction for £75,000 (US$95,277) in June. Last month, Dalmore launched its Distillery Select range and revealed its global travel retail-exclusive Portfolio Series.
