Similar Whiskies to Dalmore

Last Updated on: 15th August 2024, 12:02 am

J Highland

J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.

Looking for a similar Speyside dram with a focus on honey, toffee, and oak?

• Aberlour 12: Honey, toffee, vanilla, pear - A pleasant and well-balanced dram with oaky character.

Want to explore the world of sherry-aged whiskies with a focus on dried fruit?

• Glenmorangie Lasanta: Raisins, caramel, oak - A delicious introduction to sherry-aged whiskies with rich dried fruit notes.

Prefer a richer and more pronounced sherry influence?

• GlenDronach 12: Caramel, honey, apple - Rich and smooth with notes of dried fruit from Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks. (Great value!)
• Macallan Sherry Oak 12: Vanilla, dried fruit, oak - A top contender in 12-year Scotches, complex, smooth, and perfect for sherry lovers. (Pricier but a great experience)

Open to a sweeter sherry-aged dram with a focus on malty notes?

• Glenfiddich Sherry Cask Finish: Sherry, oak, vanilla - A step up from the regular Glenfiddich 12, offering moderate sweetness and smoothness.

Seeking a full-bodied sherried masterpiece with a higher proof?

• Glenallachie 12: Banana, caramel, raisins - Exquisitely crafted in sherry casks, one of the finest sherried Scotches available.

Intrigued by Speyside with a unique twist (fruity and nutty notes)?

• Mortlach 12: Orchard fruits, vanilla, almond - Offers a unique Speyside character with orchard fruits and a touch of nuttiness.

Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

Similar Whiskies to Dalmore 12 & Best Alternatives: Buying Guide

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Aberlour 12: Oaky Delight

• Nose: Honey, toffee, vanilla, pear
• Palate: Caramel, apple, citrus
• Finish: Spicy oak, roasted nuts
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Aberlour 12 offers a pleasant nose of raisins, baking spice, and a touch of burnt oak. The creamy palate features caramel, nutmeg, and charred oak, balanced by moderate spice. The finish lingers with bitter chocolate, cinnamon, and oak. A touch of water brings out caramel but intensifies the oak. Solid and enjoyable, this dram showcases oak alongside sweetness and complexity, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.

Glenmorangie Lasanta: Sherried Delight

• Nose: Raisins, caramel, oak
• Palate: Dried fruit, vanilla, cinnamon, hazelnut, oak
• Finish: Dried fruit, oak spice, baking spice
• Alcohol content: 86 proof (43% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Lasanta's inviting nose offers raisins, caramel, vanilla, and oak. The palate is creamy and smooth, rich with dried fruit, vanilla, baking spice, and oak. The finish is warm and pleasant, lingering with dried fruit, oak spice, and baking spice. A delicious whisky for bourbon fans curious about sherry-aged drams, thanks to its unique dried fruit notes.

GlenDronach 12: Rich & Sherried

• Nose: Caramel, honey, apple
• Palate: Vanilla, caramel, dried fruit
• Finish: Oak, dried fruit, sherry
• Alcohol content: 86 proof (43% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat

GlenDronach 12 entices with a nose of toffee, honey, and apple. The palate reveals caramel, vanilla, and rich dried fruit, a result of its Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez cask aging. The finish is long and warm with hints of oak, dried fruits, and sherry. Smooth, satisfying, and ideal for sherry lovers, this is a steal at its price.

Glenfiddich Sherry Cask Finish: Sweet & Satisfying

• Nose: Shery, oak, vanilla, baking spice
• Palate: Malt, apple, caramel, honey, hazelnut
• Finish: Malt, apple, orange peel
• Alcohol content: 86 proof (43% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat

Glenfiddich Sherry Cask Finish entices with a rich sherry nose, hints of oak, vanilla, and baking spice. The malty palate offers balanced sweetness with apple crumb cake, caramel, honey, hazelnuts, and orange peel. The surprisingly long finish lingers with a bittersweet character, a satisfying combination of malt, apple, nut, and orange notes. Enjoyable with moderate sweetness and smoothness, this is a step up from the regular Glenfiddich 12, offering good value.

Macallan Sherry Oak 12: A Sherry Star

• Nose: Vanilla, dried fruit, oak
• Palate: Vanilla, dried fruit, oak, prune
• Finish: Oak, sherry
• Alcohol content: 86 proof (43% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Macallan Sherry Oak 12 leads with a dominant vanilla nose, accented by subtle dried fruit and oak. The creamy palate is sweet and warming, offering balanced vanilla, dried fruit, prune, gentle oak, and hints of ginger and nutmeg. The long finish lingers with satisfying sherry notes and subtle heat. Rich, complex, smooth, and enjoyable, this is a top contender for 12-year Scotches, a must-try for sherry whisky lovers. While pricey, it delivers a great experience.

Glenallachie 12: Sherried Masterpiece

• Nose: Banana, almond, oak
• Palate: Banana, caramel, raisins, chocolate
• Finish: Medium, oak, chocolate
• Alcohol content: 92 proof (46% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Glenallachie 12's nose offers banana, almond, and a touch of oak. The creamy palate explodes with ripe banana, caramel, raisins, and a hint of chocolate. The smooth finish lingers with gentle oak spice and chocolate. Water unlocks more complexity with caramel, chocolate, and oak. This full-bodied, 92-proof whisky is exquisitely crafted in Pedro Ximénez and oloroso sherry casks, making it one of the finest sherried Scotches available.

Mortlach 12: Speyside Delight with a Twist

• Nose: Caramel, vanilla, orchard fruits, almond, oak
• Palate: Orchard fruits, baking spice, roasted nuts, orange
• Finish: Medium, baking spice, caramel
• Alcohol content: 87 proof (43.4% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Mortlach 12's nose bursts with apple, pear, caramel, vanilla, toasted almond, and oak. The full-bodied palate offers a fruity kick of apple and pear, followed by robust baking spice, roasted nuts, and a hint of orange peel. The finish lingers with rich baking spice and caramel, with minimal heat. This Speyside dram boasts unique "funky" notes alongside a satisfying mouthfeel.

The Dalmore 12: Fruity Start, Short Finish

• Nose: Dark fruit, citrus, chocolate, cinnamon, plum
• Palate: Apricot, fig, grape, pecan
• Finish: Short, dark fruit, baking spice
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

The Dalmore 12 single malt Scotch whisky offers an enticing aroma of dark fruit, orange peel, hints of chocolate, and baking spice. However, the taste experience doesn't quite live up to the initial promise.

Some reviewers describe the Dalmore 12 as thin and lacking in body, with a sweetness that can become overpowering. The finish is also on the shorter side, with some warmth, lingering dark fruit, and a touch of spice. Adding a little water may not significantly improve the taste profile.

If you're looking for a well-rounded single malt Scotch in this price range, there might be better options to explore.