A lot has happened in 2020, including an exclusive silent bid at Harrods, London, in December. The auction that caught the attention of whisky fans and collectors around the world, featuring The Dalmore 60 Year Old single malt whisky, put a delicious and luxurious cap on an otherwise difficult year.
Single malt whisky is about passing down generations of knowledge and history. For 180 years, The Dalmore has been a masterpiece in the making. A single malt whisky like no other, overseen by an unbroken chain of visionary whisky makers whose entrepreneurial spirit and restless pursuit of the perfect whisky endures today. The tradition started in the 1830s when “vintage whisky” was still unheard of. Since 1839, The Dalmore distillery, led by the great Mackenzie Clan, has continued to push boundaries and invest in future, deciding, for instance, to let whisky mature in exquisite sherry casks for decades before bottling it in royal stag-decorated decanters. The 12-pointed stag granted by King Alexander III has since become a recognizable icon of the distillery.
Based on the precious barrels passed down from three generations of the Mackenzie family, current Master Distiller Richard Paterson has been creating bottle after bottle of notable single malt whisky, including The Dalmore 60 Year Old single malt, making The Dalmore exceptionally drinkable and collectable. In celebration of 180 years dedicated to creating masterpiece whiskies, the newly launched and auctioned whisky is the ultimate reunion of two twin casks—the last casks of the great Mackenzie era—making this bottle extraordinary and even more desirable to collectors.
The rare whisky definitely has a special place in Paterson’s heart. “The Dalmore 60 Year Old is a fitting tribute to the masterful talents of our distillers past and present, who have all helped to create an incredible body of work,” he says. “For me personally, nurturing and caring for these two casks has been a true labour of love. The reunion of the two spirits has produced an unforgettable whisky that is truly greater than the sum of its parts.”
Case in point: this special bottle is filled with spirit first distilled on June 7th, 1951. The twin casks have been lying in repose side-by-side in the Scottish Highlands—warehouse number 4, to be precise. After six decades of maturing, the spirit was finally hand-selected and bottled on July 26th, 2011 by Paterson himself. And the over-half-century wait is well worth it: the spirit presents a beautiful deep mahogany, beaming copper and amber-gold colour. On the nose, layers after layers of aroma: first comes a robust overture of aged oloroso sherry, treacle toffee, licorice and a hint of balsamic, followed by a further layer of old English marmalade, Java coffee and dark bitter chocolate. The drink finishes with subtle glazed cherries, moist Napoleon cake and sun-kissed raisins. The sherry wood has cast its magical charm to reveal enticing flavours of pecan pie, banana fig cake, crushed almonds and hints of Chinotto oranges on the palate. As these enchanting flavours disperse, they are quickly replaced by juicy raisins drenched in Marsala, thick treacle, overripe pineapple and frangipane.
In addition to showcasing an exceptional artistry and rich history, The Dalmore 60 Year Old also celebrates the unveiling of a world-first, four-year partnership between The Dalmore and Scotland’s first design museum, V&A Dundee, marked with a donation from the proceeds raised from the sale of this exceptional 180th anniversary single malt release. Says Paterson, “I’m delighted that this very special moment is also paying tribute to the prestigious and much-loved V&A Dundee. It’s a celebration of our shared relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to artistry and science in both creating and sharing the exceptional—and also our passion to nurture future creative talent. The donation marks the beginning of a four-year collaboration about which I’m hugely excited, with much to follow over the coming months.”
Although The Dalmore 60 Year Old marks an end to the Mackenzie era, it also signifies a new page for the historical distillery. When asked what the greatest Dalmore Paterson has ever made is, he says, “We haven’t made it yet.” It will be intriguing to see how he will surprise us with more great whiskies in the years to come. —Louisa Chan
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