Dalmore Castle Leod 1995 Vintage Lands of Clan Mackenzie Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%

Castle Leod still stands at Strathpeffer and is still the Mackenzie clan home. Dalmore has carried the clan stag on its label for nearly two centuries — here the castle gets a bottle of its own.

Expert description

Dalmore Castle Leod 1995 Vintage is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American white oak and Spanish sherry oak with a final finish in 1er Cru Classé Bordeaux casks and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled in 1995 and bottled in 2011 in an outturn of 5,000 bottles. It belongs to the Lands of Clan Mackenzie series, where each release is tied to a place in the clan's history. Castle Leod at Strathpeffer is the clan seat and lies a few kilometres from the distillery. The Bordeaux finish is unusual for Dalmore and lays a dry fruit acidity over the usual house sherry sweetness.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich and inviting. Dark fruits, orange peel, honey and caramel, accompanied by warm spices, chocolate and a touch of roasted nuts.

Palate

Full and silky. Raisins, prunes and ripe fruit melt together with vanilla, spices and dark cocoa, while the oak contributes structure and depth.

Finish

Long, warm and elegant with lasting notes of fruit, spice and light oak.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore Castle Leod 1995 Vintage Lands of Clan Mackenzie Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak and Spanish sherry oak with a 1er Cru Classé Bordeaux finish
Distilled: 1995
Bottled: 2011
Number of bottles: 5,000
Edition: Lands of Clan Mackenzie Castle Leod
EAN no.: 5013967007116

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark Fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Elegant

Investment potential

High. A 1995 vintage in 5,000 bottles from a closed series. Lands of Clan Mackenzie is collected as a whole, and the individual releases will not return.

Did you know?

Castle Leod has been in Mackenzie hands since the fifteenth century and is still lived in. The castle sits at Strathpeffer, a short drive from Dalmore — and that geographical closeness is what the whole series is built on.

See our full range of Dalmore Whisky

Frequently asked questions about Dalmore Castle Leod 1995 Vintage

What is Lands of Clan Mackenzie?

A Dalmore series in which each release is tied to a place in the Mackenzie clan's history. Castle Leod at Strathpeffer is the clan seat and lies close to the distillery.

What does the Bordeaux finish do?

It adds a dry fruit acidity and a light tannic edge that balances the sweetness of the sherry casks. It is an unusual cask type for Dalmore and a large part of why the bottle stands out.

How many bottles exist?

5,000 bottles. That sounds like a lot, but the series is closed and the release will not be made again.

Why does Dalmore have a stag on the label?

Because the founder of Clan Mackenzie, as the story goes, saved King Alexander III from a charging stag and in return was granted the right to carry the animal on his arms. Dalmore has used it since the nineteenth century.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat in a tulip glass after ten minutes of rest. At 46% it takes a couple of drops of water, but the dark fruit stands clearest without.

Is it worth collecting?

A 1995 vintage, a closed series and a cask type Dalmore rarely uses. The combination makes it interesting to drinkers and collectors alike — see the rest of the region in our Highland Whisky.