In our consumer-driven society, "new" is what's now "in". New laptops, cool phones, hundreds of gigs of music stored on a device smaller than an old cassette tape. The whisky industry has struggled to find an identity in this new consumerism, but many brands have been able to find a way to increase their "coolness."

The whisky industry is old, ancient, in fact, when you consider just how old some of Scotland's distilleries really are. Whisky has never been thought of as hip or cool, just something your Grandfather drank with ice and water. The recent explosion of interest in single malts in just the last 10 years or so has started to change that tired dusty image. Many brands are shedding their old clothes for fancy new packaging and adding new older expressions to their range. The Dalmore is one of the latest to join this growing trend.

Many brands have succeeded in updating their image with not only looks, but substance as well, while still maintaining a link to the past. Some have failed miserably; I won't name any names, but let's just say I miss my Longmorn 15. Fortunately for us purists, The Dalmore has gotten it right. Gone is the Cigar malt and the Stillman's dram, which will be missed, but they've been replaced with juice, which is just as good. We recently sat down and sampled the new range. These six good to great whiskies remind us of why we love our work.

The Dalmore 12 Year Old
Big burst of sherry, youthful but not immature. The classic Dalmore that we all love for it's easy going nature and low price tag (hey, cost is important). The nose is deep with sherry, grassy notes, orange candy, vanilla and cherries. Nice and fresh. The mouth feel is big and chewy that transitions to a slightly sharp and medium to long finish. A nice whisky, that for the price, can't be beat.

The Dalmore Grand Reserve
The replacement for the Cigar malt? I liked this one much more than the retired version. More grassy notes in the nose and the sherry doesn't dominate. Bitter oranges, coffee, tobacco, chocolate and wild flowers makes for one impressive nose. Medium mouth feel on the palate with more sherry. The finish is a little sharp but don't add water because it kills this dram. The nose just pulls you in and matures the longer it stays in the glass. I liked this one very much!

The Dalmore 15 Year Old
One of my favorites of the range that captures the essence of great Highland whisky by bringing just a touch of smoke to the table. Subtle with a nose filled with stewed oranges, smoke, winter spiced bunch and cinnamon. A real treat. The body is nice and light, smooth and flavorful. The dram's rounded off with a nice enjoyable medium length finish, a touch of sherry and smoke. Well balanced. A winner.

The Dalmore 1263 King Alexander III
Named after the King who bestowed the stag symbol on the famed McKenzie Clan. Can this dram live up to its royal billing? You're met with a touch of smoke on the nose and the dram pulls you in with amazing complexity. Sherry, honey, leather, floral notes and dried cranberries. A tour de force. The body is medium dry but unfortunately that's where our story ends. It unwinds with a sharp finish filled with dates, apricots and fruit cake. Still a very nice whisky but a wee bit unbalanced. This one may collect dust on the shelf but I think I'd take it down once in a while just to nose it.

The Dalmore 1974
Wow. My "new" favorite Dalmore. You could just smell the age on this one. The nose seduced me with sherry, a touch of fresh cut orange, coconut, ripen fruit and leather. Nice, nice, nice. The body is medium with oranges and sherry. The nose and body are balanced perfectly with a wonderfully long dry finish. The fruit of the nose is toned downed and replaced with leather, apricots and a touch of orange. A little sharp but it works. Ancient and special!

The Dalmore 40 Year Old
The whole range was building to this 40 year old whisky. It's not like you get to try a dram this old on a regular basis. Sometimes though, too much of a good thing can be too much of a good thing. That good thing is age and wood. Sometimes whisky stays in the barrel just a wee bit to long. If this one was pulled maybe 5 years earlier I'm sure it would have been a special dram. This whisky just seemed tired and over worked. The nose is deep and rich with sherry, oak and raisins. A tad musty. A light body and a sharp burst of sherry on the finish and then dram's gone in a heartbeat. Sorry, I know the whisky gods want me to like it but I found it forgetful.