Dalmore 2023 Edition 18 years old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%

González Byass in Jerez has casks that have held Matusalem oloroso for thirty years. Dalmore gets to borrow them — and that arrangement is what the entire house style rests on.

Expert description

Dalmore 2023 Edition 18 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American white oak and 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 43%.

The distillery sits at Alness on the shore of the Cromarty Firth and has since 1839 worked in a heavy, sherried style. The partnership with the sherry house González Byass gives Dalmore access to oloroso casks that held wine for three decades, and it is those that give the 18 year old its depth. This release is the 2023 version of the standing 18 year old, which is adjusted from year to year.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep and inviting. Orange peel, raisin and dark chocolate, with cinnamon, roasted nuts and a warm note of old oak.

Palate

Full and silky. Dried fruit, caramel and marzipan, with spice from the sherry cask and a malted core underneath. The 43% carries the sweetness without making it sticky.

Finish

Long and warm, with raisin, cocoa and a dry spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore 2023 Edition 18 years Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak and 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry casks
Edition: 2023 Edition
EAN no.: 5013967019324

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Chocolate · Orange · Full-bodied

Investment potential

Medium. Eighteen year age statements keep getting rarer in the trade, and Dalmore's annual versions of the 18 year old are not reprinted once the year has passed.

Did you know?

Matusalem is González Byass' oldest oloroso, a VORS sherry with at least thirty years in cask. The casks serve sherry for decades and only then whisky — one reason Dalmore can hold such a dark and concentrated style.

See our full range of Dalmore Whisky

Frequently asked questions about Dalmore 2023 Edition 18 years

What is Matusalem oloroso?

González Byass' oldest oloroso sherry, aged at least thirty years. The casks pass to Dalmore after their sherry life and give the whisky its depth of dried fruit and chocolate.

Why does it say 2023 Edition?

Because Dalmore releases the 18 year old in annual versions with an adjusted cask make-up. Each year is its own bottling and is not made again.

Is it too sweet?

No. The sherry casks give plenty of fruit and sweetness, but the malted core and the dryness of the oak keep the balance. At 43% there is also enough strength to carry it.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat in a tulip glass at room temperature, ideally after five to ten minutes of rest. At 43% it does not need water, and ice shuts down the dark fruit notes.

What food goes with it?

Try it with dark chocolate, dried fruit or a mature hard cheese. The sherry character meets the sweetness without the whisky disappearing.

What is Highland whisky known for?

It is Scotland's largest region and the style runs from light and floral to heavy and sherried. Dalmore sits at the heavy end — see the full spread in our Highland Whisky.