Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old

Dalwhinnie 15 year old

ABV: 43.5%

What the professionals say:

Delicate yet aromatic on the nose, hints of toffee, fruit salad, lush nectarine, custard. Floral, apple blossom, honeysuckle. Apple peels, pear, touch of smoke.

It tastes malty. Walnuts steeped in manuka honey with vanilla sponge. Gentle smoke weaves its way through the cereal with a touch of spice.

With a long, malty, walnut, almond finish.

What I think:

This is a Speyside Whisky, coming out of the light 'lunchtime' (Please drink responsibly) whiskies camp of Speyside. It is probably the most underrated malt within the classic six. As to why this is, I am not sure. Maybe it is because some people would define it as bland. It certainly does not have the massive flavours of some Whiskies, it has a hint of smoke, yet it does not drown you in peat.

I was surprised when I first tasted this Whisky, described as medium bodied and at 15 years of age, part of the classic six, you expect it to be strong flavoured, to be bold, for want of a better word. Instead it is very light in colour, unassuming on the nose, with delicate hints and a subtleness of flavours that I could not distinguish between. Sweet, definitely, something creamy and hints of vanilla... was about all I could muster.

On the tongue it tastes sharp. I'm not sure where the professionals get there flavours from. The first sip was not the most enjoyable experience I have ever encountered with tasting whisky, sharp, slightly acrid, maybe even woody. Yet it soon settles down, and by the second glass i had begun to enjoy the subtle flavours. Slightly sweet, yet sharp, woody, hint of smoke. Delicate yet sharp and clean tasting, it does have a hidden depth to it, yet is not apparent on first taste.

All in all not a bad Whisky, takes some time to appreciate. Light, delicate, sharp yet sweet and none of these things are necessarily bad!

6.75 out of 10 - Probably deserves higher, but too subtle and gentle for my palette.