The Dalmore distillery, founded in 1839 in a secluded area west of Invergordon just across the Cromarty Firth from Balblair, is know under the ownership of Whyte and Mackay.  Owned by the Mackenzies for a century, the bottle still bears a stag’s head — a key element of the family’s coat of arms.  Dalmore is known for their use of sherry casks; as such, whisky connoisseurs who enjoy The Macallan 12 Year or  Macallan Fine Oak 10 Year are sure to appreciate the rich flavours from the Dalmore’s offerings.
The official …

In response to our Whisky in History series, the people over at The Macallan have written a blog post which parallels our series, highlighting The Macallan’s history.  Here are two such dates:
(1824) Alexander Reid, a local farmer known for his advanced farming methods and for the superior quality of his whiskies, obtains a license to distil whisky in Scotland – one of the first ever licenses. This was followed by the set up of a lease of eight acres from the Earl of Seafield to establish a distillery. With this, …

Owned by Pernod Ricard, Aberlour was founded over 180 years ago, with its distillery rebuilt on several occasions after fires in the late 1800s.  While their whisky is often overshadowed by neighbour Macallan’s sherry-cask offerings, Aberlour still produces over 2 million litres per year; given Aberlour’s distinctive yet smooth honey and heather character, I’m surprised it is not more.   Their A’bunadh offering is one of my (and my wife’s) favourites, and the 10 and 12 year’s price point (both under $60 in Vancouver) make both a great purchase on all …

It’s name meaning “Big Rock,” Cragganmore has a storied history beginning with its founding by whisky legend John Smith of Macallan, Glenlivet, and Glenfarclas fame and leading to its current home in the Diageo group.  Coming in at 40% ABV, Cragganmore 12 has a reputation as a tart, dry, aromatic scotch; would the 6-month-old bottle from which I reviewed it hold up to this reputation?

Today your local BC Signature store is stocking its shelves with some of the world’s rarest and most exciting malts. Even if your location prevents you from partaking in the festivities the release booklet is a pretty good read.
“With enthusiasm for premium whisky growing each year, BC Liquor Stores continues to seek global selections of rare and highly recommended whiskies. The products presented in this release are chosen for rarity, accolades, variety and appeal.
Featuring whiskies of interest for the collector as well as the whisky novice, this release includes …