The Dalmore Cask Curation Series II Embraces the Power of Port
When The Dalmore unveiled the first offering of its Cask Curation Series in 2023, the whisky world was on high alert. The three-bottle set offered some exceptionally rare whiskies celebrating the long-standing partnership between the winemakers of González Byass and the whisky makers at The Dalmore that can be traced back for over a century. This Sherry Cask Edition was previewed in Toronto last fall and took little time to sell out. With 150 sets offered globally, only two made it into the Canadian market.
For 2024, The Dalmore looks to another key relationship in its barrel supply for the creation of the Cask Curation Series II: Port Edition, with Symington Family Estates’ Graham’s Port Lodge in Portugal. But it’s not just any barrels being used to finish this set of rare whiskies either. The barrels in question are all single-harvest Tawny Port casks, ranging in years from 1952 to 1997. These casks were hand-selected by The Dalmore’s master whisky maker Gregg Glass to appropriately complement the characteristics of each of the rare whiskies to which they would lend flavour during the finishing process.
Collectively, the three bottles in the set represent a total of 100 years of aging. The youngest expression of the set — aged a modest 27 years — offers a robust and refined flavour profile that encapsulates the charm of a well-balanced port. In contrast, the 30-year bottle proved to be a bit of a surprise to Glass when it was uncovered in the back of The Dalmore’s warehouses. “This felt like quite the discovery in the Dunnage Warehouse! Blood orange notes, complemented with dark fruit, and soft spices. Delightful.”
Being familiar with Glass’s past work, this level of excitement is where his craft truly shines. There’s good reason why The Dalmore is held in such high regard in the whisky world, and between Glass and master distiller Richard Paterson OBE, the refinement found in their work is truly impressive. The pair have worked hand-in-hand for some time now, and their achievements in both the core collections and the rarities like the Cask Curation Series and Luminary editions speak volumes about their respective talents.
Though Glass showed this level of excitement when speaking of the 30-year bottle of the Cask Curation set, that’s not to say the elder whisky of the trio isn’t equally worthy of praise. Aged 43 years and finished in a very rare 1952 single-harvest Tawny Port cask, this is a whisky packed with complex flavour. Its enhancement from the Port barrel is delicate, acquiring notes of rich dark fruits. Its nose plays its way through forest fruits, plum, sugared almonds, cacao, and star anise, counterbalanced by the sweetness of dried apricots and soft caramel. Into the body, this profile is maintained with fruit-filled notes on the palate, with ginger, sweet tobacco, and soft wood spices rounding out the finish. Though listed as cask strength, it’s not as high alcohol as its siblings, measuring a modest 41.8 percent.
Packaged in a bespoke, handmade, teal-green Italian leather travel case, there’s a rather regal charm that feels fitting to the presentation of such an exclusive offering. These spectacular sets will no doubt draw eyes as they come to market this fall, and with only three coming to Canada for 2024, with a retail price of $65,000 CAD, we strongly suggest marking your calendars for this release.
