The Dalmore tells BourbonBlog.com they have unveiled a new permanent addition to its acclaimed Cigar Malt whisky family: The Dalmore Cigar Malt Signature Reserve Aged 18 Years, a Highland Single Malt Scotch whisky designed to complement the experience of enjoying a fine cigar.
The Dalmore’s Cigar Malt story stretches back to the late 1990s. Ahead of its 2011 U.S. relaunch, BourbonBlog.com’s Tom Fischer interviewed legendary whisky maker Richard Paterson in Las Vegas. Watch that exclusive interview below, along with a more recent pairing, more below!
The new expression for 2026 combines an 18-year age statement with an elaborate maturation program involving five cask types, including bourbon barrels, Sherry casks and three different wine-cask influences.
The Dalmore Cigar Malt Signature Reserve Aged 18 Years is scheduled to become available in the United States beginning November 2026, with a suggested retail price of $399.99.
It joins the distillery’s existing Cigar Malt Reserve as a more mature, complex alternative, rather than replacing the original expression.
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BourbonBlog.com’s History With The Dalmore Cigar Malt: From Richard Paterson to Cohiba
BourbonBlog.com‘s Tom Fischer has been following the story of The Dalmore Cigar Malt since its early days. In 2011, Fischer interviewed legendary whisky maker Richard Paterson at The Nth Ultimate Whisky Experience in Las Vegas in the video below and on this link, where Paterson introduced The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve ahead of its U.S. release.
Now, 15 years later, as The Dalmore introduces its new 18-Year-Old Cigar Malt Signature Reserve, we’re revisiting that original conversation. Watch our exclusive 2011 interview with Richard Paterson below.
From the BourbonBlog archives: Tom Fischer with Richard Paterson at The Nth Show in Las Vegas, 2011.
The Dalmore Cigar Malt Meets Cohiba Spectre
More recently, Fischer and Cohiba Brand Ambassador Sean Williams co-hosted the Masters Series on CigarWorld.com for Episode 13, “Price Wars,” of Cigar World’s Masters Series: Whiskey.
The episode explores whiskey and cigar pairings across different price points, including a rare Cohiba Spectre paired with original The Dalmore Cigar Malt.
Watch Tom Fischer and Sean Williams in Cigar World’s Episode 13: Price Wars →
The Dalmore Cigar Malt 18-Year-Old: Price, Age and Release Details
- Whisky: The Dalmore Cigar Malt Signature Reserve Aged 18 Years
- Maturation: Initially aged 16 years in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, then finished in Matusalem Oloroso Sherry, Marsala, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon casks.
- Region: Highlands, Scotland
- Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Age statement: 18 years
- ABV: 46% (92 proof)
- U.S. bottle size: 750ml
- Suggested U.S. retail price: $399.99
- U.S. availability: Beginning November 2026
- Collection: Permanent addition to The Dalmore’s Principal Collection
- Presentation: Premium scarlet gift carton with an unfolding design
The whisky is presented at natural color and is non-chill filtered, allowing its texture and cask-developed characteristics to remain part of the experience.
Five Cask Types: How The Dalmore Created Its New Cigar Malt
One of the defining features of this new 18-year-old release is its maturation program.
The Dalmore confirms that the whisky spent an initial 16 years maturing in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels before being enhanced through finishes involving Sherry and wine casks.
The result reflects the Highland distillery’s long-standing emphasis on complex multi-cask maturation.
Inside The Dalmore’s Five-Cask Maturation
- American white oak ex-bourbon barrels: Provide the foundation of vanilla, honeyed sweetness and balance following 16 years of initial maturation.
- Matusalem Oloroso Sherry casks: Introduce dried-fruit depth, nutty richness and structure.
- French oak Marsala casks: Contribute ginger warmth, spice and palate texture.
- French oak Cabernet Franc barriques: Bring aromatic complexity and subtle savory character.
- French oak Cabernet Sauvignon barriques: Add tannins, structure and additional dark-fruit influence.
The distinctive combination of Sherry and two different Cabernet wine varieties gives the whisky a particular emphasis on rich, layered flavors suitable for extended sipping.
The Dalmore describes its cask selection as intentionally designed to keep the whisky expressive throughout the cigar-pairing experience.
How Does The Dalmore Cigar Malt 18-Year-Old Taste?
The Dalmore’s established Cigar Malt Reserve has long been associated with rich flavors intended to complement premium cigars.
With its new 18-year-old expression, the distillery is taking that philosophy further, offering a whisky with additional age, expanded wine-cask influence and a slightly higher 46% ABV compared with the original Cigar Malt Reserve’s 44% ABV.
Official Tasting Notes and Cigar-Pairing Profile
Aroma: Chocolate orange, dried fig, dark fruit, aromatic oud and sandalwood.
Palate: Forest berries, sticky dates, orange marmalade, dark chocolate and cinnamon spice.
Finish: Long and lingering, featuring dark fruit, nutmeg and cinnamon.
According to The Dalmore, the whisky was developed to maintain depth and clarity alongside the changing flavors of a cigar.
Its combination of dark fruit, chocolate, wood spice and wine-cask richness suggests an expression that could be especially interesting alongside a full-flavored premium cigar.
While this new addition was designed with cigar enthusiasts in mind, The Dalmore emphasizes that the expression can be enjoyed independently as a mature Highland Single Malt.
For collectors and whisky enthusiasts, another notable distinction is its status as a permanent expression rather than a one-time limited release, although availability will vary by market.
The post The Dalmore Unveils Rare 18-Year-Old Cigar Malt: 16 Years in Bourbon Casks, Then Finished in Sherry and Wine first appeared on BourbonBlog.
