Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition

Scotland, 25 September 2017. Distillery tasting, probably of the 2017 release. Nose: An old musty cereal aroma, reminiscent of a haybarn with a leaky roof. Slightly honeyed and sherried, but primarily a malty nose with grassy overtones. There's quite a distinct grapey top-note that becomes more defined as the whisky rests and develops in the glass. Adding water cripples the nose immediately. [The dry-glass aroma is honey]. Palate: A brisk and almost sour arrival. Cereal and bittersweet malt with hot tannins, hot cinnamon and walnut oil. The texture is oily but astringent. The palate seemed shallow and one dimensional. Finish: Medium. Sour cereal and oak tannin. The aftertaste is strong overbrewed English breakfast tea with a spoon of white sugar. The nose gained interest over time but the palate never became more than awkwardly curious - it seemed to me haphazard and unbalanced with more than just a touch of sulphur. Adding water did nothing to help - it just weakened the overall experience. Whisky is a very subjective thing, as we all know, and in my case I can find little to recommend about this dram - it's just not my sort of whisky. Given the not inconsiderable price it is not one that I'd ever consider buying. Re-tasted from a 30ml sample of the 1998/2015 release in 2019. Re-tasted from a 30ml sample of the 2003/2018 release in 2021. My rating stays the same as from the original. "Adequate" : 74/100 (2.25 stars)

Round two of the not-yet-reviewed bottles from my collection, following round one (Balvenie 12 Single Barrel). Deep, clear amber color. Nose is reminiscent of pear nectar, like a concentrate of Oban 14, along with a subtle smoky peat; orange marmalade on toast; and an autumnal tart apple cider. The palate is amplified and mouthcoating, with a smokier, but by no means overdone, presence. Some sweet golden raisins and honey also make an appearance. The sweet smokiness continues on the lengthy finish. Delicious. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. This bottle distilled 2004; bottled 2019. 43% ABV. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Nose: Light fruits, honeycomb, caramelized orange peel, light vanilla, smells like an Icewine Nose after swirl: Very airy and sweet notes Nose after water drop: Much more aggressive burn gives way to honey-dipped fruits. Palate: Thin, oily mouthfeel. Oddly enough... Honey Nut Cheerios! Like a honeycomb-enveloped malty grain. Very slight, light fruitiness, but nowhere near as much as the nose. Palate after water drop: Medium heat, much darker notes; stone fruit, peat. Finish: very little heat (almost none), light notes fade into dark grainy finish. Slight linger.

DALWHINNIE 1997 17YO DISTILLER ED 43% -2ND TRY- MILD NOSING UNIMPRESSIONABLE, RASPBERRIES, GRAPES, MILDNESS IN THESE NOSING THOUGH, LITTLE PEPPER 2.25 DELICATE, OAKY, ROUND RED FRUITS LIKEN THIS TO BERRIES (CONFIRMED TO BE IN OLOROSSO CASK), MILD MILD, BITTERNESS HITS AT THE BACK 2 SIMPLE OAKY 2 2 dalwhinnie 1997 17YO DISTILLER EDITION 43% Highest in altitude Spicy, pear, fruity 2 Spicy, nutty sweetness, oily, iodine 2 Nutty finish 2 2

Nose- freshly peeled green grapes, honeycomb, ginger, milk chocolate, applesauce Palate- juicy pear, light peat, dates, honey, dried fruits, beeswax Finish- medium finish with honey, sweef apples and spices Delicious. Incredibly balanced. Complex nose and palate with a perfect amount of peat and dark fruits. Love the honey from start to finish. Finish could be a bit longer, but with a nose and palate as beautiful as this, it’s hard to complain.

Finally opened the bottle. On the nose I get fruits like pear or green grapes and a hint of peat. On the palate the peat subsides to the fruity flavors. Others review states floral notes, but I don’t get that. Maybe I don’t have the palate or baseline to know the difference. The finish is a little Smokey and lasting. Overall a good drink.