The Dalmore has unveiled the Cask Curation Series Port Edition in Douro Valley, Portugal, home of renowned winemakers Symington Family Estates – makers of Graham’s Port.
Under this strictly limited release, only 150 sets of the trio of single malt Scotch whiskies will be available worldwide.
The 2024 release marks the second instalment in the Cask Curation Series, honouring The Dalmore’s craftsmanship in whisky-making, while highlighting the importance of premium casks sourced from the world’s premier winemakers in producing this single malt Scotch whisky.
Casks are essential in creating Scotch whisky, serving as the vessels in which the spirit is matured. As they age the cask imparts its character to the whisky, influenced by both the wood type and the fine wines it has previously contained.
The Port Edition was developed through an exclusive collaboration between the Whyte & Mackay-owned distiller and Symington Family Estates, which allowed The Dalmore’s whisky makers exclusive access to the rarest Graham’s Port casks.
The collection includes three age-statement whiskies in each set, showcasing the rich flavour potential of Graham’s Port wine casks, carefully matured for decades under the guidance of winemakers and currently led by Head Winemaker Charles Symington (4th Generation).
Each age-statement whisky is housed in the signature Dalmore bottle adorned with a matching collar. The design features a striking green hue, paying tribute to Portugal and its winemakers.
The bottles are encased in a bespoke leather travel case hand-crafted in Florence, Italy.
Each expression has a natural colour and is non-chill filtered. The Aged 27 Years expression is finished in very rare Graham’s 1997 Single Harvest Tawny Port casks; the Aged 30 Years in very rare Graham’s 1994 Single Harvest Tawny Port casks; and the Aged 43 Years in exceptionally rare Graham’s 1952 Single Harvest Tawny Port casks.
The launch of the Port Edition builds on the success of the previous Port-finished expressions from the distiller.
The Dalmore’s whisky makers are inspired by the distinct characteristics of Graham’s rare Port casks. Each cask contributes to the whisky’s flavour profile, infusing it with rich fruit and dark chocolate notes.
This collection reflects a century of whisky craftsmanship, starting in the valley above the Douro River, where Portuguese winemakers have shaped terraced vineyards into the schist soil since the 1700s, creating a distinctive feature of this mountainous region.
Each year, hand-picked grapes from Graham’s estate, Quinta dos Malvedos, are transported to the boutique winery, where they are crafted into the premium wines the Port house is renowned for.
Graham’s 1890 Lodge, 90 miles downriver in Vila Nova de Gaia, overlooks the historic coastal city of Porto, the gateway to the Atlantic. After each harvest, Graham’s wines are sent to the lodge for assessment by Master Blender Charles Symington, and only the highest-quality wines are chosen for long-term ageing, often kept at the lodge for decades.
Graham’s Lodge has established itself as one of the most-visited destinations in the Porto region, drawing millions of tourists annually. Renowned for its Port, it offers visitors the chance to discover how flavours are blended to create the ideal wine in this style.
The Dalmore underlines the shared history between Scotland and Portugal. Brothers William and John Graham established the company in 1820 and later accepted 27 pipes of Port wine as payment for a debt, marking the beginning of the popular Port house.
In 1970, the third generation of the Symington family acquired Graham’s Port and has consistently worked to elevate its reputation.
For decades, The Dalmore’s whisky makers have travelled to Vila Nova de Gaia to select very rare Port pipes, which complement their whisky-making expertise and are exclusive to The Dalmore.
The Dalmore Whisky Maker Margaret Nicol said: “Graham’s really is special, as a peaceful place to meet the casks and listen to them and their story. Plus, it is a unique place to enjoy The Dalmore, overlooking the river and the city. The collection is a celebration not only of partnership, but of the friendship between us at The Dalmore and the Symington family.”
The selection of premium casks is essential to The Dalmore’s whisky-making artistry. The distillery was founded to produce a distinctive single malt, pioneering multi-cask maturation in 1868.
Now under the leadership of Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE, The Dalmore continues to be home to “visionary whisky makers” who uphold the distillery’s time-honoured tradition to create premium whisky.
The distillery’s distinctive stills collection produces a new-make spirit with a unique character and depth – robust and fruity, making it ideal for longer and more complex maturation.
This allows The Dalmore’s whisky makers to refine the spirit over longer periods, inspiring them to discover high-quality and rare casks from the world’s leading vineyards and bodegas.
Each of these casks offers unique potential to enhance flavour possibilities of The Dalmore Single Malt as it quietly matures over the months, years and decades.
The third release of the Port Edition is set to debut in 2025, with the series culminating in 2026 with the fourth and final release.
Each release will represent The Dalmore’s long-standing relationships with the world’s leading winemakers. ✈
