The Dalmore 12 Review

The Caskable 100No. 73 of the 100 highest-scoring bottles →

Dalmore 12 is a sherried Highland malt with a stag on the bottle and a reputation for being posh. This Dalmore 12 review is about a rich, orange-and-chocolate whisky that tastes like Christmas, and costs a bit more than it should. The Caskable score is 77 out of 100.

It is the sort of whisky that is at its best when you are in the mood for something sweet and rich. If you are not, it can feel like a lot.

What is Dalmore 12?

Dalmore sits on the Cromarty Firth at Alness, in the northern Highlands, and is owned by Whyte & Mackay. The royal stag on the label comes from a legend about a Mackenzie chief saving a king from a charging stag, which is the sort of story that sells a lot of whisky. The distillery is also known for its high-end bottlings, including the famous Dalmore 62 that helped create the collector market.

The 12 is bottled at 40% and is generally described as having spent time in ex-bourbon casks before a finishing period in sherry casks. The result is a whisky with a sherried, orange-heavy profile that is closer in style to a Speyside sherry bomb than to its Highland neighbours.

Dalmore 12 tasting notes

The nose is sherry-driven, with dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate, then marzipan and roasted almonds. It is a big, sweet, rich nose, and you could be forgiven for thinking the whisky was older.

The palate is where the sweetness and richness stand out. Chocolate and sherry with spiced oak come first, then citrus, caramel and baking spices. The sweetness can lead to palate fatigue, and I understand why: it is generous to the point of being a bit much.

The finish is soft and lingering with toffee, though it can turn short, drying and bitter, and at its best it is long and satisfying, with spice, dark fruit and bittersweet cocoa. That sort of swing usually means batch variation or a drink that depends on your mood. I land at 77.

How to drink Dalmore 12

Neat, in a tulip glass, with a few drops of water. It is sweet enough that you may want to add a little water to bring out the orange and chocolate. Ice makes it dull.

It is a good after-dinner dram, and works well with dark chocolate, orange cake and mild cheeses. It is a decent Old Fashioned base too, where the orange and chocolate notes do much of the work.

The stag and the legend

The Dalmore’s stag logo comes from a legend about Alexander III of Scotland, who in 1263 was saved from a charging stag by a Mackenzie chief. The king rewarded the family by allowing them to use a royal stag’s head with twelve points on their coat of arms. The Mackenzies later owned the Dalmore distillery, which was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson. The stag has appeared on the label ever since.

The distillery sits on the Cromarty Firth, with a view across to the Black Isle. It is owned by Whyte & Mackay, and it has built a reputation for luxury, with expensive releases such as the 62-year-old and collaborations with fashion and art brands. The 12 is the entry bottle.

Sherry and a light finish

Dalmore 12 is matured in a combination of American white oak ex-bourbon casks and, for the last portion, in sherry casks, including some from the Gonzalez Byass bodega in Jerez. The final sherry stage gives it a distinctive orange, chocolate and spice flavour. The distillery’s tall, flat-topped stills, with water jackets on some, produce a rich, heavy spirit that stands up to the sherry.

It is bottled at 40%, which is my main complaint. The flavour is rich, but the strength is low, and the finish can seem short. The 12 is a nice whisky, but a higher strength would improve it considerably.

Palate fatigue and the right measure

The sweetness of the Dalmore can lead to palate fatigue. It is a rich, sweet whisky, and a large glass can become cloying. The solution is to pour a smaller measure and to take it slowly. A little water helps, and so does a piece of dark chocolate or an orange segment. It is a whisky for savouring, not gulping.

Is Dalmore 12 worth the money?

At about £60 for 70 cl it is on the dear side. At about £48, Glenfarclas 12 scores 80. GlenDronach 12 is about £50 and scores 82. At about £38, Aberlour 12 Double Cask scores 81.

All three beat the Dalmore on score and price, so this is a case where the name and the stag are doing more work than the whisky. Dalmore tends to look dearer than its competitors on the shelf, so compare a few retailers before buying.

Alternatives to Dalmore 12

There is always another bottle. These are the ones I would put next to The Dalmore 12, because each trades off price, style or strength in a way that matters.

Who should buy Dalmore 12?

Sweet-toothed drinkers who like sherry and chocolate, gift buyers who want an impressive bottle, and anyone attracted to the stag. If you want maximum flavour per pound, buy one of the alternatives.

Dalmore 12 review verdict

A rich, orangey, chocolatey sherried Highland malt that is delicious and overpriced. Caskable score: 77 out of 100.