The Dalmore revamps TR exclusive line

Whyte & Mackay-owned Highland single malt Scotch The Dalmore has updated its travel retail exclusive no-age-statement range, now known as The Fortuna Meritas Collection.

The Dalmore has updated its Fortuna Meritas Collection for travel retail

A development of the similarly named Fortuna Merita Collection, announced at the TFWA World Exhibition in 2014, the latest incarnation has a strong focus on cask types used in maturation and finishing.

The Dalmore Valour, a blend of whiskies finished in American White Oak, 30-year-old Matusalem oloroso Sherry and Port pipe casks and initially released in 2013, is now included in the collection. Bottled at 40% abv, the expression retails at £60/€75 for one litre.

Valour is joined by The Dalmore Regalis, Luceo and Dominium, all of which have slightly different finishes than previously disclosed.

The Dalmore Regalis has been finished in American white oak and Amoroso Sherry casks, and offers given nosing and tasting notes of mulled wine, exotic fruits, marzipan, toffee, walnuts, pecan cake and Manuka honey.

‘Regalis’ translates as ‘royal’ or ‘regal’, and relates to The Dalmore’s 12-pointed stag motif. Bottled at 40% abv, the expression retails at £67/€91 for one litre.

The Dalmore Luceo is finished in American white oak and Apostoles casks for notes of Cognac-soaked Madeira cake, tangy fruits, treacle tart, pistachios, Colombian coffee and Sanguinello blood oranges, says the brand.

Luceo means ‘I shine’ and is taken from the motto ‘Luceo Non Uro’ – or ‘I shine, not burn’ – of the Mackenzie clan, who formerly owned The Dalmore distillery. The expression retails at £75/€105 for one litre, bottled at 40% abv.

The Dalmore Dominium completes the collection, and has been finished in American white oak and 30-year-old Matusalem Sherry casks. Given nosing and tasting notes include sandalwood, lemon tart, honey, caramel coffee, liquorice spice, Sherry-soaked raisins and banana cake.

Dominium means ‘dominium’ or ‘ownership’, and refers to an incident in 1263 when a member of the Mackenzie clan saved the king from a charging stag. He was granted the use of the royal stag emblem as a reward. Bottled at 43% abv, the whisky retails at £99/€135 for 70cl.

“I start the whisky making process with a vision of what style I would like each whisky to have,” said Richard Paterson, The Dalmore master distiller.

“The American white oak in which we initially mature our whisky gives me a wonderful canvas from which to start each whisky’s creation. The Dalmore is an exceptional spirit whose character shines through and develops to unrivalled levels when matured in the right casks – it is my job to ensure that I find the perfect cask for the whisky to excel.

“For this collection I looked to our long standing and unique partnership with Gonzalez Byass as this allowed me to draw from rare, rich and valuable sherry casks. I was able to create a different and unique finish for each whisky, giving each of them a rich and complex flavour, but with their own nuances and individual flair.”

The Fortuna Mertias Collection – which translates as ‘fortune favours the brave’ – was launched on 7 June with Lagardère Travel Retail at BuY Paris Duty Free, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The collection will be available in all European travel retail stores, from summer 2016.