Dalmore Distillery

On the shore of the Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands, The Dalmore Distillery has been distilling since 1839, its stag's-head emblem announcing whiskies built for long, patient sherry-cask maturation. Founded by Alexander Matheson, the distillery draws its process water from the River Averon, fed by Loch Morie, and remains one of the more distinctive production sites in the Highlands thanks to an unusual still configuration and an unusually deep relationship with a single sherry bodega.

History & Heritage

Alexander Matheson founded The Dalmore Distillery in 1839. In 1867 the Mackenzie family, Andrew and Charles Mackenzie, took over its lease, and in 1891 the brothers purchased the distillery outright from Matheson's son, beginning a family stewardship that shaped the brand's identity for decades. Mackenzie Brothers Ltd merged with Whyte & Mackay in 1960, folding Dalmore into a larger Scotch whisky group. Ownership shifted again in 2007 when Whyte & Mackay was acquired by United Spirits of India, and again in 2014 when Emperador Inc. of the Philippines acquired Whyte & Mackay. The Dalmore Distillery is owned, as of July 2026, by Emperador Inc. through its subsidiary Whyte & Mackay. In April 2026 the distillery completed a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion that doubled production capacity to approximately 9 million litres per year, adding a new still house, two new mash tuns, 17 washbacks, and eight pairs of stills built as exact replicas by coppersmith Forsyths.

The Whiskey

The Dalmore ferments for roughly 50 hours in eight Oregon pine washbacks before distillation through eight pot stills, four wash stills and four spirit stills. The wash stills are notable for their flat tops and mismatched sizes, a legacy of piecemeal expansion over the distillery's history, while the spirit stills carry water jackets around their necks to increase reflux and produce a more refined new-make spirit. The malted barley is sourced externally and is not peated, keeping the house style focused on rich fruit and spice rather than smoke. Maturation runs through American white oak ex-bourbon casks and specially selected aged sherry casks sourced from Gonzalez Byass in Jerez, and Dalmore's cask finishing period, typically three to five years, runs considerably longer than the industry norm, which is central to the depth found in expressions like The Dalmore 15yr Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured 12 years in ex-bourbon casks before finishing for three more years across Amoroso, Apostoles, and Matusalem Oloroso sherry casks. The core range extends from The Dalmore 12 Year Old through The Dalmore 18 Year Old and The Dalmore 25 Year Old, alongside no-age-statement expressions such as The Dalmore King Alexander III, matured across six different cask types, and The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve.

Why It Matters

The Dalmore's sherry-forward house style has earned sustained recognition on the competition circuit, including a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2014 for the 15 Year Old, a Gold Outstanding at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in 2019, Supreme Champion honors at the International Spirits Challenge in 2020 for the 35 Year Old, and Gold at the 2025 World Whisky Awards for The Dalmore 12 Years Old. Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass was named Master Distiller of the Year at the 2023 Global Icons of Whisky Awards. The Dalmore 15yr Single Malt Scotch Whisky is part of the Reserve Whiskey Library at The Sentinel Room, offering guests direct access to the distillery's signature long-finish sherry-cask style.

Visiting the Distillery

The Dalmore reopened its visitor experience in April 2026 following the renovation. Visits are private, concierge-led experiences priced at £250 per person with a minimum of two guests, running approximately three hours and including a behind-the-scenes look at production, sensory moments, and a guided tasting from the Principal Collection and Distillery Exclusive range. Advance booking is essential, general walk-in access is not offered, and all experiences are restricted to adults 18 and over.