Scotland, Northern Highlands. Distillery operational. Owner: Whyte & Mackay

It was with quite a bang that Dalmore joined the ranks of collectible whiskies, when the group's master blender Richard Paterson presented the Constellation range in 2014. This interstellar symphony of 43 bottlings (1964 - 1992) was the culmination of several decades spent in the depths of warehouses sculpting a distillate with a complex and versatile character in the ex-sherry casks that have become the trademark of the Dalmore Single Malt. Selected from the Gonzeles Byass bodega, these Oloroso, Mathusalem (The Dalmore 32 Year Old 1974 Cask #504, 52%) and Amoroso (The Dalmore 1981 Amoroso Sherry Finesse) barrels offer such aromatic density and range that the profile of The Dalmore has become indistinguishable from the sherries produced at the bodega which, along with Richard Paterson, has co-designed the Dalmore style.

Dalmore King Alexander is a blend of single malts aged in no less than six different types of cask: bourbon, Matusalem Oloroso sherry, Madeira, Marsala, port and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is an incredible reflection of the skill of Dalmore’’s master blender Richard Paterson. Launched in 2008, it commemorates the act of bravery of Colin de Kintail, head of the Mackenzie clan, who saved King Alexander III from an attack by a stag. To show his gratitude, the king granted him the right to use the 12-pointed royal stag emblem now found on all bottles of Dalmore, as the family owns the distillery.