Dalmore Launches Marsala Cask Finished 14 Year Old for 2026

Limited Distillery Select Expression Arrives

The Dalmore has unveiled Dalmore 14 Years Old 2012 Distillery Select 2026, a limited release Highland single malt that completes the brand's inaugural three year cycle of warehouse selections. Distilled in 2012 and bottled this August at 53.7% ABV, this 14 year old represents the distillery's ongoing exploration of cask finishing as a method for drawing complexity from carefully chosen parcels of mature spirit.

The release is limited to 1,110 bottles globally at a recommended retail price of £350.00. Dalmore Guild members received early purchase access before general market availability on August 31st, 2026.

The Distillery Select Series Context

The Distillery Select Series launched in 2024 as an annual program through which Dalmore's whisky makers select small parcels of exceptional stock from the distillery's dunnage warehouses. Each year brings three separate expressions, each distinguished by its cask finishing regimen rather than by standard age statements or core range positioning.

This approach grants access to spirits that might otherwise remain locked within the warehouse system, reserved for blending into the brand's commercial releases. By presenting them as standalone bottlings, Dalmore invites collectors to experience the breadth of maturation profiles and finishing techniques in its inventory. The program sits separate from the brand's principal collection, which includes the 12 year old, 18 year old, and King's Ransom expressions known to most drinkers.

Each Distillery Select release reflects the hand of Richard Paterson, Dalmore's master blender and guiding vision for the brand since the 1970s. His influence shaped Dalmore's identity around innovative cask finishing, extending beyond the distillery's signature Oloroso sherry maturation into Port, Madeira, and other wine cask mediums.

Semisecco Marsala: A Softer Italian Influence

This expression underwent initial maturation in American white oak ex Bourbon barrels, a standard practice for many Highland spirits. The spirit then transferred to Semisecco Marsala casks for 1 year and 9 months of finishing maturation. This choice represents a departure from Dalmore's traditional reliance on Spanish sherry casks, instead drawing on Italian wine traditions.

Marsala is a fortified wine from Sicily, and Semisecco represents the semi dry category within that spectrum, containing between 41 and 100 grams of residual sugar per litre. The style strikes a balance between dryness and sweetness, delivering flavours of toasted almond, caramel, dried apricot, dried fig, and nut alongside subtle nuances of chocolate and coffee. When used for whisky finishing, Semisecco Marsala typically imparts a gentler hand than sweeter Marsala styles, softening the spirit's structure while introducing dried fruit complexity rather than cloying residual sweetness.

The finishing period of 21 months allows the cask influence to fully integrate into the spirit without overpowering the underlying distillery character. This duration positions the expression as a true marriage of Highland maturation and wine cask influence, rather than a brief surface treatment.

Flavor Complexity and Tasting Notes

The bottle opens with floral aromatics, sweet clementine, and stone fruit on the nose. Honeyed malt emerges alongside notes of grape must, itself an echo of the whisky's Marsala cask finishing. On the palate, candied orange peel and sweet pear take the lead, joined by toffee and brioche that suggest the whisky's Bourbon cask maturation. Roasted walnut, clove, and cinnamon add spice and depth. The finish carries sweet citrus and rich oak, fading into a trace of festive spice.

At 53.7% ABV, the whisky demonstrates the full complexity of its wood influence. The bottling strength allows the wine cask contribution to shine while maintaining balance between the Marsala finishing and the underlying Highland spirit character. Collectors seeking to explore beyond Dalmore's core range expressions will find this bottle a measured yet generous exploration of the distillery's finishing philosophy.

The Dalmore 14 Years Old 2012 Distillery Select 2026 will be available on Spiritory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Dalmore 14 Years Old 2012 Distillery Select 2026?

It is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky from The Dalmore, distilled in 2012 and finished for 21 months in Semisecco Marsala casks, part of the distillery's third annual Distillery Select release.

How many bottles were released?

The release is limited to 1,110 bottles globally, bottled at 53.7% ABV with a recommended retail price of £350.00.

What does it taste like?

The whisky opens with floral aromatics, sweet clementine and honeyed malt, moving to candied orange peel, toffee and roasted walnut on the palate, and finishing with sweet citrus and rich oak.

Where can I buy the Dalmore 14 Years Old 2012 Distillery Select 2026?

It will be available on Spiritory.