Dalmore King Alexander III Single Malt Scotch Whiskey 750ml

The Dalmore distillery sits on the shores of the Cromarty Firth in Alness, in the Scottish Highlands, where it has been producing whisky since 1839. Its iconic twelve-point stag emblem commemorates a legend from 1263, when a member of Clan Mackenzie is said to have saved King Alexander III from a charging stag during a royal hunt, an act of heroism the king rewarded by granting the clan the right to bear the stag on its crest. Under longtime Master Distiller Richard Paterson, Dalmore has built its reputation on ambitious multi-cask maturation, and King Alexander III stands as one of the clearest expressions of that philosophy.

This non-age-statement single malt is the product of six distinct cask types, married together after aging separately. Small batch ex-bourbon barrels provide the foundation, joined by Matusalem Oloroso sherry butts, Madeira drums, Marsala barrels, Port pipes, and Cabernet Sauvignon wine barriques. Each cask contributes its own layer of flavor before the components are blended, and the finished whisky is bottled at 40% ABV, offering considerable complexity without relying on extended age alone.

The nose opens with red berry fruit and a hint of passion fruit, layered with citrus peel and warm spice. On the palate, orange zest and vanilla lead into chocolate, coffee, and sweet raisin, with a winey richness running throughout. The finish is long and warming, closing on cinnamon, ginger, and a trace of polished oak.