Review / Dalmore 2007 Vintage & 2003 Vintage

This pair of whiskies are the latest new limited editions from the north Highland distillery of Dalmore. The Dalmore 2003 Vintage (pictured, above left) and 2007 Vintage (pictured, above right) represent the second bottlings in the Dalmore Vintage Collection. Both whiskies have been created from casks hand-selected by pioneering whisky maker Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE, Master Blender for Dalmore.

Dalmore is located in the village of Alness to the north of Inverness. It sits on the shores of the Cromarty Firth and overlooks the Black Isle. The distillery was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson and has an interesting history, including being used during the First World War by the Royal Navy to manufacture explosives. The current capacity of the distillery is just over four million litres per year. Dalmore is currently owned by Whyte & Mackay, part of the larger Phillipines-based Emperador Inc. They own the Whyte & Mackay blended whisky brand, plus the single malt distilleries of Fettercairn, Jura and Tamnavulin. 

The Dalmore 2003 Vintage is bottled at 18 years of age and 46.9% ABV. Initial maturation was in American oak ex-bourbon barrels before being transferred to a carefully selected set of casks including ex-Riversaltes sweet wine, ex-Matusalem and ex-Amoroso sherry, and small-batch ex-bourbon. Just five casks were used for the release. A bottle will cost £350/ US$430. 

The Dalmore 2007 Vintage is bottled at 15 years of age and 46.5% ABV. Again, initial maturation was in American oak ex-bourbon casks. The whisky was later transferred to a combination of ex-Matusalen, ex-Apostoles and ex-Amoroso sherry casks and ex-Madeira sweet wine barrels. Just 12 casks were used for the release. A bottle will cost £150/ US$185. Both bottlings are available via specialist and luxury retailers in selected world markets.

Our tasting notes

Dalmore 2003 Vintage

The colour is deep gold, almost amber, and the nose is rich but elegant. Aromas of manuka honey, orange zest and cinnamon spice lead the way. Hints of tropical fruit and cocoa powder sit in the background. 

On the palate this whisky has an oily and velvety texture, and clings to the tastebuds. The manuka honey note is again prominent and is joined by some distinctly fruity top notes - think of tropical fruit plus baked apple, raisin, sultana and candied orange peel. The fruitiness is supported by some hefty wood spice (especially cinnamon and tannic oak) and sweetness in the form of toffee and caramel notes. Hints of chocolate and milky coffee sit in the background, as does an increasingly herbal characteristic and a suggestion of gingerbread.

Dalmore 2007 Vintage

The colour is a vibrant gold and the nose has a warming floral and honeyed feel. Aromas of heather honey and citrus blossom mingle with milk chocolate, dried fruits (think of raisin and sultana especially) and moscovado sugar.

On the palate this whisky feels silky and luxurious. Initial notes of warm heather honey and candied orange peel subside to allow further notes of sultana and chocolate coated raisins to come through. There is also a distinct green apple characteristic which continues throughout. This is supported by the crumbly brown sugar from the nose and some toffee. Sitting in the background are spicy and earthy notes - this is remininscent of antique furniture and old cigar box with a hint of festive mulling spice.

What's the verdict?

These are two superb new bottlings from Dalmore. They show the distillery's rich and fruity signature character but with a distinct luxurious elegance. It is also good to see the brand bottling these at a slightly higher ABV - this gives the whisky another dimension and a little more power. This is something which critics will say is lacking in core Dalmore whiskies. 

We enjoyed both of these new single malts. They go in slightly different directions but both show Dalmore in a very good light. If we had to chose our favourite, then we would have to go for the rich and bold honeyed nature of the 2007 Vintage. But it would be a tough choice ...