The Dalmore has revealed the latest edition of its Distillery Select series, with the promise of an extra dose of elusiveness.
The Dalmore launched its Distillery Select series in 2024 to offer drinkers the opportunity to try a different side to its single malt whiskies. This year’s release does just that, as it is aged primarily in ex-bourbon casks. A 21-month finish in Semisecco Marsala casks will give it some of Dalmore’s signature sweet and spicy style, but this is far removed from its general lineup.
Its core range is full of heavily sherried whiskies bottled below 46% ABV, almost all of which are chill-filtered and use natural caramel coloring, to the dismay of purists. Distillery Select goes a different route – it’s a single-year vintage (2012), unchill-filtered, natural color, and bottled at a hearty 53.7% ABV.
It’s also quite far removed from the core line-up in price. The standard 18 Year Old, which is produced in bulk and is bottled at 43%, costs £315 ($420). The Distillery Select 2026, which is limited to just 1,110 bottles, is an appetizing £350 ($450).
But, of course, there’s a catch. The price, which some would argue is still expensive relative to other distilleries, is meant to entice you in. That’s because you can only buy one at The Dalmore’s newly reopened distillery, which requires a by-appointment-only reservation costing £250 ($340) per person.
That hasn’t been the case with previous Distiller Select releases, as The Dalmore had no distillery to sell it in. And, indeed, some bottles will still be made available to loyal members of The Dalmore Guild, a free-to-join newsletter. But this is very much being reserved as a reward for those who make the journey.
And that is what the distillery exclusive has always been for – offering something genuinely different from anything else, ideally at a reasonable price. The Dalmore Distillery Select 2026 achieves both of those things, albeit within its own premium pricing model.
So what does it taste like? We don’t know yet. We’ll be trying the Distillery Select soon, and you’ll be able to read our review on Tasting Notes. Official notes point towards the influence from the Marsala (a Sicilian fortified wine) casks: candied orange peel, sweet pear, toffee, brioche, walnuts, clove, and cinnamon.
