Dalmore Cromartie 1996 Vintage Lands of Clan Mackenzie Single Highland Malt Whisky 45%

Cromartie is the name of the earldom the Mackenzie clan received from the crown. Third bottle in the series, third place on the map — and the whisky gets darker with each release.

Expert description

Dalmore Cromartie 1996 Vintage is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American white oak with a final maturation in oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 45%.

The whisky was distilled in 1996 and is the third release in the Clan Mackenzie Series, where the clan's twelve-point stag appears on every bottle. The combination of American oak first and oloroso at the end is the classic house recipe, and the 45% gives more weight than most of Dalmore's standing releases. The series is limited and ties each bottling to a place or title in the clan's history.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

Full and round. Raisin, prune and ripe fruit bind together with vanilla, cocoa and spice, while the distinctive Dalmore sweetness holds it all together.

Finish

Long and warm, with dried fruit, spice and a dry oak note.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore Cromartie 1996 Vintage Lands of Clan Mackenzie Single Highland Malt Whisky 45%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 45 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak with a final maturation in oloroso sherry casks
Distilled: 1996
Edition: Lands of Clan Mackenzie Cromartie
EAN no.: 5013967007758

Flavour profile

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

Investment potential

High. A 1996 vintage in a closed series where each release is tied to a specific place in the clan's history. Collectors go after the whole run.

Did you know?

The title Earl of Cromartie was granted to the Mackenzie family in 1861 and still exists. The Lands of Clan Mackenzie series follows those traces through the landscape north of Inverness — and the distillery sits in the middle of it.

See our full range of Dalmore Whisky

Frequently asked questions about Dalmore Cromartie 1996 Vintage

What is the Clan Mackenzie Series?

Dalmore's series of vintage bottlings where each bottle is tied to a place or title in the Mackenzie clan's history. Cromartie is the third release in the run.

What does a final maturation in oloroso mean?

That the whisky first matured in American white oak and was then moved into oloroso sherry casks for the last years. That gives dried fruit and chocolate over a paler core.

Why 45 percent?

It is higher than Dalmore's standing releases at 40 and 43%. The extra points give more weight and make the sherry character clearer without the whisky turning sharp.

Is it worth collecting?

A 1996 vintage from a closed series with a clear story behind it. Series of this kind are often collected complete, which keeps demand up on the individual bottles.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat in a tulip glass after ten minutes of rest. At 45% it takes a couple of drops of water, but the dark fruit stands strongest without.

What defines Dalmore?

A heavy, sherried Highland style where orange and dried fruit recur across the range. See the rest of the region in our Highland Whisky.