There are well-informed executives, mover-and-shakers and scotch whiskey enthusiasts who can impress with a dram on demand. And then there are those wanting to stun and impress their fellow connoisseurs with a transcendent rarity. If you’re part of the second group, turn your eyes toward Los Angeles. The Dalmore Highland Single Malt has appointed Wally’s (one of the most elevated liquor boutique, food shop and restaurant concepts on the West Coast) the exclusive point of sale for one of “The Dalmore Decades 5-Piece Collection,” valued at $275,000 USD.
This set at Wally’s will be the only one available in the United States, while each of the remaining Dalmore Decades sets will be sold exclusively through Harrods (UK), Le Bon Marché in France and CDFG Hainan in China. The artisanal and collectible set of five exceptional whiskies painstakingly aged and crafted by Master Distiller Richard Paterson spans five decades (1967, 1979, 1980, 1995, 2000), bookended by one of oldest liquids released by The Dalmore and the first Scotch created in the new Millennium. Each decanter features a distinctive colored stopper, and are engraved with an exclusive set number.
While an exclusive private tasting displayed what the lucky buyer will get with purchase (including the regal pedestals the bottles were perched on), guests enjoyed an exclusive tasting dinner that kicked off with a cocktail using The Dalmore’s reliably elegant 12-Year Old single malt, and then worked its way back in time with course pairings created in collaboration with Wally’s Executive Chef Ryan Kluver and Chef de Cuisine Alan Martinez (whose everyday menu is, frankly, worth the trip to Santa Monica).
The Dalmore Decades 2000, aged for 20 years of its life in a Matusalem Oloroso sherry, was matched with Salt Roasted Beet Salad. Kurobata Pork with spiced pumpkin puree partnered with the mercurial but elegant The Dalmore Decades 1980, and the Wagyu New York Strip with the velvety 1979 expression. While the meal came to an epic finish with an elaborate chocolate mocha dessert underscoring the complexity of The Dalmore Decades 1967, the crowd pleaser of the night was the pairing of the Grilled Duck with The Dalmore Decades 1995.
“Over the past 50 years, I have kept a watchful eye over our superlative inventory of rare whiskies, giving them the guidance to mature and reach their full potential in the finest casks sourced from around the world,” said Master Distiller Richard Paterson by video to the guests from Scotland. “The Dalmore Decades opens doors to the world of luxury – every drop of liquid is a masterpiece of time. This collection is a memento of our 180-year history and each bottle marks a very special milestone and has a unique story to tell. If the last year has taught us anything, it is that life is to be enjoyed now and I hope the lucky collector will enjoy with those closest to them.”
For information on the creation of the individual whiskies, the curation of the collection, and the distillery, visit The Dalmore’s US website.
