Only one collector in the world will own The Dalmore Decades Number 6 collection.
The Dalmore is unveiling a limited selection of six single malt whiskies that spans six decades. Called The Dalmore Decades, it includes one of the oldest liquids released by the brands to the first scotch created in the new millennium.
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This will be released through three collections, starting off with the no. 6, which will be auctions off by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong next month.
“Over the past 50 years, I have kept a watchful eye over our superlative inventory of rare whiskies, giving them the guidance to mature and reach their full potential in the finest casks sourced from around the world,” says The Dalmore master distiller Richard Paterson.
Paterson has been on a mission over the last 50 years to push the boundaries in whisky production as he seeks to optimize potential over time. The Dalmore Decades is his personal selection and a culmination of his custody of the exceptionally rare casks the distillery enjoys.
Each bottle marks a very special milestone in the brand’s history, he says, and has a unique story to tell.
“If the last year has taught us anything, it is that life is to be enjoyed now,” Paterson continues. “This collection is a memento of our 180-year history in the making. We are proud to share the pinnacle of six decades of whisky making, the result of potential earned and honed over time.”
Through the years
The six-bottle collection to be auctioned off via Sotheby’s is comprised of the following
The Dalmore Decades 1951 – ‘Royal Heritage’
A 60-year-old single malt, matured in twin sherry casks, one can expect to find whispers of black treacle, ginger spice, and cocoa powder. The 1951 is one of the oldest whiskies ever released by The Dalmore. It is the last of the whisky distilled during the time of the Mackenzies, who are the founders of the distillery.
The Dalmore Decades 1967 – ‘Expertly Composed Spirit’
This 53-year-old single malt was laid down in 1967, a landmark year in which the stillhouse as it stands today was created. This single malt provides complex, but intriguing layers of clementine, tangy ground coffee and muscovado, thanks to its final maturation in a Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine barrique.
The Dalmore Decades 1979 – ‘Curating Exquisite Casks’
This 40-year-old single malt is a tribute to the longstanding relationship between González Byass and The Dalmore. The 1979 has enjoyed maturation in a particularly fine Matusalem Oloroso sherry butt before a final maturation in a Graham’s Port Vintage 1952—one of Port’s rarest vintages.
The Dalmore Decades 1980 – ‘Unbroken Chain of Visionaries’
The 1980s marked Richard Paterson’s arrival at The Dalmore and his tutelage by the last Mackenzie. Like his predecessor, Paterson’s long-standing tenure personifies a commitment to the vision of the distillery established 180 years ago.
The Dalmore Decades 1995 – ‘The Creation of an Icon’
The 90s welcomed the creation of an icon The Dalmore’s minimalist bell-shaped bottle, its sinuous curves echoing the voluptuous shape of the stills through which the distillery’s matchless spirit runs. The 1995 is matured in ex-Bourbon casks and finished in spectacular Tintilla de Rota port pipes.
The Dalmore Decades 2000 – ‘Into the New Millennium’
At 12:02 A.M. on Saturday, January 1, 2000, as the world celebrated the dawn of a new age, workers at The Dalmore were at their posts securing a notable achievement for the Highland distillery: the first in Scotland to run new spirit off the stills in the third millennium, officially witnessed three minutes after midnight.
A significant percentage of the sale will be donated to Scotland’s design museum, V&A Dundee.
The brand has a four-year partnership with the museum, a relationship anchored on their shared roles as champions of Scottish culture, and in exporting shared purpose, talent, and stories. The collaboration allows V&A Dundee and The Dalmore to curate and advocate for exceptional design on a global scale.
For purchase
The distillery will extend the opportunity for collectors to acquire a remarkable piece of history, releasing 15 one-of-a-kind, collectible Decades sets, the No.5 Collection (1967, 1979, 1980, 1995, 2000).
Each of the 15 sets is mirrors the colors of the brands Principal Collection, with each decanter featuring a different and distinctive colored stopper. Bottles will be engraved with an exclusive set number, presenting a compelling opportunity for established and new collectors alike.
Every set is presented on a pedestal that owners will take home to display as their own masterpiece. Each No.5 Collection set will be sold exclusively through the high-end retailers in the world including Harrods (UK), Wally’s Wine & Spirits (US), Le Bon Marché (FR), and CDFG Hainan with a price tag of £200,000.
Alongside the No.5 Collection, the No.4 Collection of 25 covetable sets, each containing four Decades whiskies (1979, 1980, 1995, 2000), will be made available to purchase for £100,000.
For more information, visit Thedalmore.com or Sothebys.com/wine.
Banner Photo from @thedalmore on IG
