The gentle spirit. This quote fits the whisky perfectly. The first time I tried it, it was a minuscule dram at a liquor store, only to get a feel of whether I liked it or not. An hour after, I still had that lingering honeyed tone, that’s when I knew deeply wanted that bottle to experience it fully. Surprisingly, I rarely hear people talking about this distillery & I think it doesn’t get as much praise as it should.
“…I would find it hard to believe that you didn’t enjoy it.”
Dalwhinnie 15 Years
Distilled by: Dalwhinnie Distillery
Type: Single Malt Scotch
Region: Highland, Scotland, the UK
Age: 15 years, aged in ex-Oloroso Sherry Butts & ex-Bourbon casks
ABV: 43% (86 proof)
Mash bill: 100% malted barley.
Colouring: Yes
Appearance: 9/10
As with most Scotch, the bottle comes in a beautiful box that gives an elegant look & serves as a protective measure against sunlight. It is also topped with a tightly fitting cork, perfect in order to minimize oxygen infiltration. There’s not much information about the whisky either on the label or anywhere else & I usually prefer when I have a chance to gain more knowledge on what I’m drinking. In the glass, the liquid is bright gold & limpid. I found out it has colouring agents, probably caramel, added to it, yet it doesn’t seem to be done to give a deeper hue to the whisky, which mimics longer aging, but rather as a way to achieve a certain consistency. When I swirl it in my glass, a thick crest forms upon where large legs start to fall at a slow pace. Overall the presentation is neat & enticing.
Nose: 12/15
The nose is quite charming with rich aromas of honey, vanilla & almond biscotti. The honey is clearly the dominating trait although there are more subtleties to this dram. I get faint earthy or musky notes along with dried flowers, nut butter & light barrel spices. This is pretty much all there is to it & it may seem like a boring whisky, but it’s not. The aromas are all perfectly blended into one another & the result is a simple, yet comforting dram.
Mouth: 13/15
The attack of this whisky is soft with a creamy texture, a mildly sweet palate, a light body & a mellow burn. This light ethanol presence paired with a tart sensation gives this spirit a certain energy which keeps you on your toes despite the gentle notes. There are velvety tannins as well as a faint bitterness. The flavours are in a similar range, with plenty of honey, along with vanilla, butterscotch, candied lemon, tea biscuits & toasted almonds. Some smoke seems to make its way on the palate although I find it to be barely noticeable. The same thing happens with a subtle saltiness that shows itself every other sips. The whisky’s profile reminds me a little of some salted buttery honey caramels.
Finish: 10/10
As mentioned in the introduction, the finish on this Dalwhinnie is ridiculous. An hour after my last sip I could still easily perceive that sweet honey flavour. Otherwise, most of the whisky dies after a minute or so.
Overall: 88/100
This Dalwhinnie is probably one of the best Single Malts for beginners. The profile is unusually light for a fifteen-year-old bottle. It’s pretty straightforward, yet still gives a bit of a challenge to the dabbling neophyte. The soft & delicious notes are easy to approach when developing your palate for this spirit. Then again, any self-proclaimed expert who hasn’t had any Dalwhinnie should definitely get a bottle as soon as possible. It won’t be the most intricate whisky you’ve tried, but I would find it really hard to believe that you didn’t enjoy it.
3-word Description:
Honey, Vanilla & Delicate.
The Reference:
More information @malts.com
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