Dalwhinnie 15 Year

I get a lot of emails from Total Wine for their "whiskey of the month" promotions and most of it is Spirits Direct swill that the sales staff are paid a spiff to sell. And most of the time, they aren't great. But imagine my delight when this month's email hit and featured a whisky from a distillery I've heard of but not yet tried? Enter The Dalwhinnie 15 year... The nose opens extremely sweet and gentle. Reminds me of Aberfeldy sans fruit. Honey and toffee are super sweet and swirled with some deeper scents like peaches and custard. The nose ends with a quick and gentle hit of peat smoke. A gentle and cool ( lacking alcohol burn ) taste brings honey and malty sugary cereal with some zingy citrus. As that taste progresses, it does become a bit drier with some tannic black tea and finally just a hint of the peat smoke that was almost undetectable on the nose. The finish is medium length and moderately oily. Some nuts and malty cereal carries through with just a tiny bit of baking spice. This whisky is about all things sweet but very faint hints here and there of complexity. You know what? I rather like it and for sub $100/Bottle + this bottle always being readily available, I think it makes a fine dessert dram.

In honour of my 150th review on Distiller, I'll be enjoying a flight of three single malts that I haven't tried before.  They're the last 3 samples from the "Regions of Scotland" set I picked up from Drinks by the Dram. Representating the Highlands is Dalwhinnie 15. I've heard this is a classic that everyone needs to try at some point, but at that price point, I always wanted to try a single dram before grabbing a full bottle at $125. Nose: Toffee, peaches and cream Palate:  Subtle, nectarine, tannins Finish: Warm and spicy, stone fruits, makes your mouth water for more. Overall it's probably the least complex of the 3, but probably also my favourite. It's just so damned delicious and easy to drink. Still not worth the price point here in Ontario, but if I ever see it on sale at the Duty Free I will be grabbing a bottle of this wonderful nectar.

An intense, Single Malt Whisky by Dalwhinnie Distillery in Dalwhinnie, Highlands, Scotland matured only in Bourbon refill casks for a minimum of 15 years. It has a dry & crisp birth with notes of toffee, fruit salad, nectarine, custard, apple blossom, honeysuckle, vanilla, citrus & smoke; while a rich & delicate life adds notes of caramel, heather-honey, pear, apple peels, vanilla, citrus, fire, a hint of malted bread & cinnamon; that led to a long & spicy finish with notes of vanilla, apple, walnut, almond, smoke, malt & more cinnamon. January / March 2020 / July / 2021 / August 2022

Probably one of my favorite scotches. Just a slight hint of peat that does not linger yet reminds you that you are enjoying a scotch. A full bouquet of flavors just on the toasty side which remains smooth thru the taste. Maybe a hint of cigar on the backside with a little woody flavor combination. Not over powering but very pleasant.

N: 플로럴, 풀, 황내, 야생꿀, 젖은 흙 들꽃이 연상되는 은은한 꽃향. 반쯤 마른 잔디를 밟은 듯한 꾸수하면서 비릿한 풀향. 꾸준히 지속되는 황.. 꿀통에 코박은 정도는 아니고 손에 묻은 꿀 냄새가 스치는 듯한 야생꿀향. 거기에서 나는 새콤한 냄새 때문인지 살구? 텁텁하고 축축한 흙내. P: 단맛. 들꽃 따서 꿀 빨아먹는듯한 미묘한 꿀맛, 무슨 이쌍한 풀 뜯어먹은거마냥 찡하게 씁쓰구레한맛. 물을 한방울 떨어뜨리니 맛들이 분리되면서 너무 씀.. F: 마지막까지 살아남은 쓴맛이 천천히 퍼지면서 옅어지는데, 풀즙과 황내를 거쳐서 다시 꽃으로 변함. 혀에 쓴맛이 남음. 살짝 꾸수한 풀내.

Malty toffee and savory nose that transfers to the palate, accompanied with light smoky peat and barrel bitterness that sticks around pretty long considering it's a modest 86 proof. The 15 is distinctly more woody than the 12, and so finishes a bit drier. If that's your thing, it's a recommended pour.