The Dalmore King Alexander III
The most layered bottle in the core range, named after the king in the story behind the stag. Six cask types, from bourbon and sherry to madeira, marsala, port and cabernet sauvignon, make it complex and fruity. A whisky to savour at length, not to mix.
One whisky, six casks
Where most single malts mature in one or two types of cask, The Dalmore uses six for the King Alexander III: ex-bourbon, Matusalem oloroso sherry, marsala, madeira, port and cabernet sauvignon. Each cask contributes something different, from vanilla and dried fruit to red fruit and a wine-like dryness. Together, they create a powerful, layered flavour profile.
The name refers to the story behind the stag on every Dalmore: an ancestor of the Mackenzie clan saved King Alexander III from an attacking stag and was awarded the animal as a coat of arms. The bottle carries no age statement and is 40% ABV, just like the 12 Years. The difference from the 12 therefore lies entirely in the wood.
In brief
Layer upon layer, from fruit to wood
Lots of fruit
A rich, fruity nose. It pays to smell it a few times, with time in between: different notes keep emerging, from sherry to red fruit.
Powerful and layered
Soft at first, followed by a powerful palate of fruit and wood. The Dalmore house style, orange and chocolate, remains unmistakable.
Long and complex
A long finish in which the wine and sherry casks return in turn. Take your time between sips.
Tasting profile of The Dalmore King Alexander III, neat in a nosing glass. Fruitier and more layered than the 12 Years.
Tasting as intended
The King Alexander III is a whisky to discover. Pour a good glass, take your time, and taste it in stages.
In a nosing glass
Pour 25 ml into a tulip-shaped nosing glass and gently swirl the glass. Smell it from a distance first, then bring it closer. Take a small sip and let it move around your mouth for a moment.
Glass: nosing glass →Find the six casks
Taste three times, leaving a few minutes between each, and note what you smell: vanilla from bourbon, dried fruit from sherry, red fruit from port and wine. A fun way to open a whisky evening.
Tasting glasses →A luxurious Manhattan
For a special occasion: 50 ml King Alexander III, 20 ml sweet vermouth, and a dash of Angostura, stirred and served in a heavy tumbler over one ice cube.
To the recipe →Mixing with the King Alexander III?
Honestly, this whisky is best enjoyed neat. If you still want a cocktail, choose a recipe in which the whisky has the final say, or use the 12 Years.
Manhattan
Whisky, sweet vermouth, and bitters. The wine casks complement the vermouth.
Godfather
Whisky with amaretto over ice. Simple, so the fruit from the casks can shine.
Christmas cocktails
Rich cocktails for the holidays, just the occasion for this bottle.
Whisky cocktails
All whisky cocktails in one place, for when you want to mix a different Dalmore.The right glass for the King Alexander III
This whisky calls for a nosing glass. A tulip shape with a narrow opening concentrates all those cask notes. For anyone giving it as a gift, a beautiful crystal whisky glass completes the experience.
More flavors from The Dalmore
The Dalmore
Where it began. On the brand page, read all about The Dalmore: its origins, varieties, and classic cocktails.
To The Dalmore →
The Dalmore 12 Years Sherry Cask Select
The 12 with a finish in three Andalusian sherry casks, bottled at 43%. Richer, sweeter and deeper than the regular 12.
View The Dalmore 12 Years Sherry Cask Select →
The Dalmore 15 Years
Twelve years in American oak, three years in three sherry casks. Full and velvety, with dried fruit, cinnamon and chocolate.
View The Dalmore 15 Years →
The Dalmore Port Wood Reserve
Finished in tawny port casks and bottled at 46.5%. Creamy caramel, sweet plums and a hint of Java coffee.
View The Dalmore Port Wood Reserve →
The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve
Bourbon, Matusalem oloroso and cabernet sauvignon casks. Full-bodied and rich, with sherry, vanilla and caramel: made to enjoy with a cigar.
View The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve →Everything about whisky: the types, the best-known brands and the cocktails.
Questions about The Dalmore King Alexander III
Can't find your question? Read more on the page about The Dalmore or browse our cocktail recipes.
Everything about The Dalmore →