The Dalmore has revealed the fourth release of its high-end Cask Curation series and confirmed it will be the last in the series.
Launched in 2023, the Cask Curation series has spotlighted The Dalmore’s relationships with wine producers through aged whiskies finished in sought-after casks.
This final chapter, the Madeira Edition, uses casks from Blandy’s, one of the oldest Madeira producers on the island. It is a fitting conclusion to a series that has already taken in sherry casks from González Byass, port casks from Graham’s and red wine casks from Château Mont-Redon.
The age statements are in line with previous editions: a 30-year-old, a 34-year-old and a 45-year-old. They are available only as a set of three, limited to 150 sets, and priced at $47,000, again matching previous releases.
Purists will be pleased that all three are natural colour and non-chill-filtered, although not cask strength. As with previous releases, The Dalmore has set “select strengths” that it says show the liquid at its best.
That is fine at 49.3% ABV, as the 30-year-old is, but the 45-year-old, at 40.7%, strays perilously close to the 40% legal minimum for a whisky at this price. The 34-year-old splits the difference at 44.5%.
It is also worth noting that while Madeira features heavily in the pitch, none of the whisky spent long in Madeira casks. The 30-year-old and 34-year-old were each given an eight-month finish in Madeira pipes: a Terrantez cask for the former, a medium-dry style known for its freshness and acidity, and a Bual cask for the latter, a richer style.
The 45-year-old spent just three months in its Madeira cask, albeit one previously used for Malvasia, the sweetest and richest of the styles, which will have made itself felt quickly.
We have not yet received samples. When we do, our verdict will appear on Tasting Notes.
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series, Madeira Edition, reaches selected retailers in September.
