Dalmore 1966 - 40 year old

In the 13th Century a member of the Mackenzie family risked his life to save Scotland's ruler, King Alexander III, from a charging stag.

As a token of his appreciation the grateful monarch bequeathed the stag to the Mackenzie family where it became a symbol of valour and courage.

The 12-point stag's head has also come to symbolise the regal pedigree of this rare Highland malt as it sits proudly on every bottle, the King of Malts.

For well over a century a variety of fine Dalmore single malts have been crafted by a small band of local stillmen. In particular, on 21st March 1966, Col. H. A. C. Mackenzie distilled and filled to cask what has now become the Dalmore 40 Year Old masterpiece.

Different woods, from American White Oak to the specially selected casks from the Bodegas of Gonzalez Byass in Jerez de la Frontera, all made their distinctive contribution. But most importantly, so did our Master Blender, Richard Paterson. Only his sixth sense judged when the balance between wood, air and spirit was perfect for creating a whisky this rare, this sensational.

How rare? Only 1,000 bottles of this superb malt are in this, the first release. Orange marmalade combines with Christmas pudding on the nose.

Faint notes of wood linger in the background. Brittle toffee and bitter chocolate combine skilfully on the palate with spicy orange and almonds.

And the finish goes on forever.